Ramotswa police are battling against cross-border cattle rustlers selling stolen beasts from South Africa to butchery owners in the South East District, police said last week.
One resident was last week arrested for allegedly stealing six cattle in South Africa-a move that might spark friction between the two countries.
In an interview with Sunday Standard, Ramotswa Station Commander, Superintendent Sarah Gabathuse confirmed the incident saying that “they are currently investigating a case in which one man who is from Ramotswa village was arrested after he was found with six stolen cattle from Moshaneng in South Africa”.
Superintendent Gabathuse said the owners of the cattle from Moshaneng came to Botswana to identify their beasts.
Three people are already serving a combined jail term of 18 years for stock theft in the same area.
They are Anthony Kobe and Tlotlhano Kupu both serving five years each and Ontiretse Lekwate who is doing eight years.
Information reaching the Sunday Standard indicates that Keabatshaba Maditse who is a resident of Ramotswa is helping the police on their investigations with regard to allegations of stock theft.
Superintendent Gabathuse said police have mounted patrols along the porous Botswana- South African border but so far their efforts have not eradicated the practice of cattle rustling.
The Botswana- South Africa common border fence is not properly maintained and in some case it has been run down by the bush thickets, said Superintendent Gabathuse.
She said some residents of Ramotswa cross the boarder to South Africa to collect fire wood and said the South African Immigration Department has already expressed their unhappiness about this.
