Farm identified in stock-theft probe

By: JANA-MARI SMITH

KRANSFONTEIN, a farm near Grootfontein belonging to Seef Oosthuizen, has become one of the focal points of an investigation by the Otjozondjupa stock theft unit.

The Police suspect that this farm could have been the central off-loading and loading area for stolen cattle.
The stock theft unit is investigating a suspected large-scale cattle theft scheme.
Following the closure and re-opening of at least 20 farms by Veterinary Services at Grootfontein, the Police have zoomed in on Kransfontein as one of the farms used during the handling of stolen cattle.
According to Police spokesperson Sergeant Marina Mueshifilua, the Police have also uncovered one of the main tools of the scheme, in which the kingpins manipulated the permit system in Namibia that controls the sale and purchase of livestock.
Although the Police remain mum on the next steps in the investigations, they confirmed on Friday that more arrests could be on the cards, although they did not confirm a substantial link between Oosthuizen and the stock-theft syndicate.
“Invalid permits were probably used to buy and sell the cattle,” Sergeant Mueshifilua said last week.
She said the Police had uncovered evidence indicating that the permit system was being abused by not following the normal channels.
Shaun Tjiute and Lazarus Nganjowe Kapwitoota, two of the men arrested for their alleged involvement in the theft syndicate, are suspected of masterminding a large part of the operations.
“We suspect these men were selling the stolen cattle,” Sergeant Mueshifilua said.
She added that the stolen cattle were sold within Namibia, but probably also shipped to abattoirs in South Africa.

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