On property where cat was allegedly sold as meat to unsuspecting members of the community
The Hawks are looking for more than 100 live crocodiles which have disappeared from a farm near Ga-Rankuwa, north of Pretoria.
Spokesman McIntosh Polela said police found 200 crocodiles at the farm on Friday and ordered that they not be removed. However, when they went back on Monday, there were only 20 reptiles there.
Farmworkers told the police they were moved on Saturday night, but could not say where they were taken.
Polela said police went to the farm on Friday after the owner was arrested in connection with a multi-million rand theft case involving a Shoprite Checkers syndicate.
He said the Hawks approached conservation experts for help after the remains of other animals were found at the farm.
A skinned domestic cat and a Zebra, which it was thought were to have been sold as meat to unsuspecting members of the community, were found in a coldroom on the farm on Friday.
Goats and other animals believed to have been picked up in the veld after dying of natural causes were also apparently stored in the coldroom.
Police suspected this meat would also have been sold to the public, possibly after being processed as boerewors.
He said that, as a result of the disappearance of the crocodiles, the farmer would face an additional charge of defeating the ends of justice.
Hawks search for crocodiles
On property where cat was allegedly sold as meat to unsuspecting members of the community
The Hawks are looking for more than 100 live crocodiles which have disappeared from a farm near Ga-Rankuwa, north of Pretoria.
Spokesman McIntosh Polela said police found 200 crocodiles at the farm on Friday and ordered that they not be removed. However, when they went back on Monday, there were only 20 reptiles there.
Farmworkers told the police they were moved on Saturday night, but could not say where they were taken.
Polela said police went to the farm on Friday after the owner was arrested in connection with a multi-million rand theft case involving a Shoprite Checkers syndicate.
He said the Hawks approached conservation experts for help after the remains of other animals were found at the farm.
A skinned domestic cat and a Zebra, which it was thought were to have been sold as meat to unsuspecting members of the community, were found in a coldroom on the farm on Friday.
Goats and other animals believed to have been picked up in the veld after dying of natural causes were also apparently stored in the coldroom.
Police suspected this meat would also have been sold to the public, possibly after being processed as boerewors.
He said that, as a result of the disappearance of the crocodiles, the farmer would face an additional charge of defeating the ends of justice.
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