POTCHEFSTROOM – Partnership between police and the farming community yielded some good results when five suspects were nabbed for possession of suspected stolen property at Wolmaransstad on Monday, 2 August 2021.
The suspects’ apprehension came after police received information from farmers of a suspicious taxi, with a trailer, travelling on the N12 from Bloemhof towards Wolmaransstad. Wolmaransstad police responded swiftly and came across the taxi with trailer, having a driver and passenger inside. The vehicle was stopped and searched. Police discovered numerous 20 litres of weed control poison as well as 25 kg’s of maize seed bags of which the suspects could not account for.
During the initial investigation, it was determined there was a second vehicle, a Toyota Camry with a trailer, travelling towards Ottosdal. The vehicle with three occupants was traced and found by Ottosdal Police at Bamboespruit in the Wolmaransstad precinct. After searching through the Camry and trailer, more poison and maize seed were found and the occupants could also not account for it.
The three suspects were immediately arrested.
The total value of the goods is worth R900 000-00. Further investigations indicated that the goods were stolen at a farm in Bothaville, Free State Province. The suspects, who are between the ages of 32 and 50, are expected to appear in the Wolmaransstad Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 4 August 2021, for possession of the suspected stolen property.
The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena congratulated the farming community for working together with the police in making sure that the suspects will face the full might of the law.
