Africa-Press – Namibia. SIX men arrested for stock theft after reportedly slaughtering three Simmentalers worth over N$100 000 have appeared in the Otjiwarongo Magistrate’s Court.
Stock theft is drastically on the increase countrywide, with farmers in the Kalkfeld area recording losses of over N$1.3 million from January to November last year.
Penehafo Nghuukwete (46 years old), Hadula Nghipundjiva (39), Petrus Shilimwati (36), Sindano Efraim Petrus (34), Petrus Haufiku (31) and Naftali Paulus (26) were caught in the early hours of Friday after reportedly slaughtering a Simmentaler bull and two pregnant cows on a farm between Otjiwarongo and Kalkfeld, driving off with the spoils.
Co-operation between the farm owner, his workers, the Otjiwarongo Farmers Association and the private anti-poaching unit Kyani lead to the men being apprehended around 02:30 about 7 kilometres from Otjiwarongo.
The case was postponed to 16 February. The accused will make formal bail applications but citizens have drawn up a petition against the granting of bail which they will hand over to the prosecutor when an application date is set.
This follows after the Kalkfeld Farmers Association on 13 December handed over a petition to public prosecutor Obert Masendeke at the Otjiwarongo Magistrate’s Court, opposing the granting of bail to stock thieves who in 2021 caused farmers in the area losses of more than N$1.3 million.
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