NATIONAL NEWS - Gruesome footage of 12 cattle being mutilated and slaughtered in the veld began to circulate on 11 September 2024. 

The incident occurred in the early morning hours at Mr. Edrich Wille's farm between Ventersburg and Virginia. The video shows the cattle's heel and neck tendons being cut. 

Some of the cattle were still alive, others were already dead, and some of them had already been slaughtered. 

This incident follows the same type of massacre that took place by presumably the same culprits during the nights of 24 August 2024 and 30 August 2024 on other farms in the Free State Goudveld area. 

The case numbers of the Hennenman massacre are as follows CAS 98/8/2024 and CAS 127/8/2024.

It is suspected that these slaughterings happen to obtain meat for the Zama-Zamas (illegal miners). 

Other past crime incidents involving Zama-Zamas have shown that these gangs are often armed with firearms. These slaughterings are not only a threat to sustainable farming and the spillover economic effect on the rural areas but also to the safety of the farmer and farm workers.

The Red Meat Producers Organisation (RPO) and SA Red Meat (SARMC), as representatives of red meat producers and the National Stock Theft Prevention Forum, have taken notice of the situation with concern. 

"We would like to appeal to farmers in the Goudveld area to give urgent attention to the issue by working together to establish controllable compartments to combat and help prevent this crime. This is also a serious call on the SAPS to not only be helpful with the immediate problem but also to pay more attention to the existence and actions of Zama-Zamas in the Goldfields area and nationally. A tighter focus on and action against Zama Zamas will limit livestock theft and improve the general safety of farmers, farm workers and the general public."

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