Tshepang Motseretsere Sepinara (22), an illegal immigrant from Lesotho, appeared before the Swartruggens Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 2 May 2025, for possession of suspected stolen cattle. He was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on Wednesday, 21 May 2025.
Sepinara’s court appearance follows his arrest on Wednesday afternoon, 30 April 2025, in Swartruggens. This came after information received led the police to the Derdepoort T-junction, where members of Madikwe and Phokeng Stock Theft and Endangered Species (STES) Units, pounced on Sepinara during a controlled buy-and-bust operation. During the arrest, the police seized five Bonsmara calves worth R100 000-00.
The calves were positively identified through brand marks and handed back to the rightful owner.
The Acting Provincial Police Commissioner of North West, Major General Patrick Asaneng, would like to thank and commend vigilant members of the public for providing the police with positive information that led to the arrest of the suspect and the recovery of the cattle. “It is also a serious concern that an illegal immigrant was employed by the farmer in contravention of the law,” he said.
