Crime Doesn’t Pay: Northern Cape Court Strips Criminals of Vehicles Used in Stock Theft and Drug Crimes

When crime tools become state property

In a clear message to criminals operating in rural and small-town South Africa, the Kimberley High Court has ordered the forfeiture of several vehicles used in livestock theft and drug-related crimes across the Northern Cape. The total value of the seized assets exceeds R300,000, and authorities say this is just one chapter in a broader clampdown on organised crime in the province.

For communities battered by stock theft and drug trafficking, the ruling has been welcomed as more than symbolic. It strikes at the very tools criminals rely on, their vehicles.

From community kraals to court orders

One of the cases unfolded at the Madibeng community kraals, where police from the Serven SAPS were conducting routine livestock inspections during an auction. Inside a bakkie parked at the kraals, officers discovered 16 goats believed to be stolen.

The suspect was arrested immediately, and the vehicle, valued at around R35,000, was seized as evidence. The court later ruled that the bakkie had been instrumental in committing the crime and ordered it forfeited to the state.

Stock theft remains a deeply emotional issue in rural areas, where livestock is more than property, it represents income, food security and cultural heritage. Social media reactions from farming communities have praised the seizures, with many saying courts must “hit criminals where it hurts”.

No permit, no mercy

In a separate operation, police in Vosburg stopped a grey GWM single-cab bakkie during routine patrols. The driver was transporting sheep but failed to produce the legally required livestock permit.

That alone was enough for an arrest. The vehicle, worth R115,300, was confiscated and later permanently forfeited.

Authorities say permit enforcement is a key tool in disrupting organised stock theft syndicates, which often move animals quickly across districts to avoid detection.

Drugs hidden on wheels

The forfeiture orders were not limited to stock theft. In another case, police recovered six bags of dagga hidden inside a bakkie. The suspects were arrested, and the vehicle, valued at R41,900, was seized and later handed over to the state.

In the Douglas area, officers intercepted another vehicle carrying mandrax tablets, a drug that continues to fuel addiction and crime in many Northern Cape towns. That vehicle, worth R114,900, also became state property following court approval.

Why asset forfeiture matters

The Hawks say asset forfeiture is one of the most effective ways to dismantle criminal networks. Instead of only focusing on arrests, it removes the infrastructure criminals depend on to operate.

Major General Stephen Mabuela, the Hawks’ Northern Cape provincial head, praised investigators and prosecutors for their coordinated efforts, saying the outcomes reflect “serious progress” in tackling organised crime.

For many residents, the message is simple: if a vehicle is used to steal, traffic drugs or exploit communities, it won’t be coming back.

And increasingly, courts are making sure of that.

{Source: IOL}

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