A public safety alert warns motorists not to pick up hitchhikers along the N12, R50, R42, R555 and the R580. Photo: Streeknews Stock
AfriForum’s Delmas Valke Neighbourhood Watch issued an urgent warning for motorists not to stop for or engage with hitchhikers.
According to the organisation, there have been multiple confirmed incidents of motorists robbed, kidnapped and hijacked after stopping to offer lifts to people posing as stranded pedestrians.
The culprits seem to vary and can be groups of males or a lone female. The incidents happen on the N12, the R50, the R42, the R555 and the R580.
The organisation urges people to immediately report suspicious persons or groups on these routes to the police..
AfriForum se Delmas Valke-buurtwag het in samewerking met die SAPD en ander veiligheidsinstansies verskeie suksesse in die stryd teen misdaad behaal.
Gedurende Januarie was veiligheid in dié gebied opgeskerp, wat tot die inhegtenisneming van 15 vermeende misdadigers gelei heVolgens ’n mediaverklaring wat AfriForum op 4 Februarie uitgereik het, het die Valke-buurtwag talle inhegtenisnemings wat verband hou met diefstal, kaping en vandalisme gemaak
Hiermee saam het die buurtwag gehelp om op meer as 50 kratte alkohol beslag te lê. Drie voertuie, waaronder ’n vragmotor wat gekaap is, is ook in hierdie tyd teruggevind.
The Middelburg Flying Squad vehicle that was left stranded after hitting a rock on the N12. Photo: Supplied.
Six vehicles were victims of highway spiking gangs last night on the N12 near Delmas in both directions. The Middelburg Flying Squad, AfriForum’s Delmas Valke Proto Team, and Delmas SAPS had a challenging night securing the N12 and assisting robbery victims caught in the bandits’ reign of terror.
Gino Sansovini, a member of the Valke Proto Team, told the Middelburg Observerthat his team of voluntary community watchmen conducted proactive patrols of the N12 after suspecting a night of criminal activity. They encountered a family of four, including a three-year-old child, stranded near the R42 – N12 off-ramp at 20:20.
The family had driven over a pile of rocks and had been robbed of their bank cards, cellphones, jewellery, and shoes. As the Valke members stopped to assist, they were joined by the Middelburg Flying Squad. “We asked the father if he could recall his Gmail login, and managed to trace one of the stolen cellphones to the Total Filling Station One Stop near eMalahleni,” Sansovini explains.
The Valke members and the Flying Squad hurried to the One Stop in hopes of apprehending the suspects, but the CCTV operator informed them that the suspects, travelling in a white Toyota Corolla, had just left in the direction of eMalahleni.
In their pursuit, the members encountered two more stranded vehicles, approximately 3km from the One Stop, on both sides of the highway. “We did not see the rocks and continued our pursuit when the Middelburg Flying Squad vehicle also struck a rock, forcing us to stop. We requested backup from the Delmas Police Station, secured the area, and assisted the other victims. When the Flying Squad vehicle was finally loaded onto a flatbed, we discovered another two stranded vehicles, bringing the total to five.”
Sansovini notes that after setting off again, yet another motorist fell victim as a bakkie struck a large pile of rocks nearby. As the Valke approached to assist, two suspects emerged from the bushes and attempted to rob the bakkie’s occupants. However, they fled on foot upon seeing the members. “We chased after them but lost their trail in the thick vegetation, allowing them to evade capture.”
Sansovini states that, of the six vehicles affected, no cases were reported to the SAPS, which means the police cannot investigate the incidents or maintain accurate statistics. He warns motorists of an increase in spiking incidents along the N12 after dark and urges vigilance.
The drugs and money confiscated at a premise in Botleng, Delmas.
Three suspects were arrested and drugs and cash were confiscated during a joint operation at two premises in Botleng, Delmas.
National Crime Intelligence and members of the Delmas Police, in conjunction with members of Delmas Valke Neighbourhood Watch proto and reaction teams, conducted an operation on November 14 at around 02:00.
The operation was planned and conducted after information was received that occupants of two houses were dealing in drugs.
According to Captain Carla Harley, media spokesperson for Delmas SAPS, the first search was conducted at a premise in Mathothombeni and yielded success when 109 Ziploc bags of rock cocaine to the value of R6 450 were found hidden inside a couch.
Cash to the value of about R7 812 was also seized.
Two suspects were arrested.
When the team arrived at the second premises, a room in the Nkanini Section in Botleng, they seized 369 pinches of heroin to the value of R11 070 and cash to the value of R1 160.
A 37-year-old suspect was arrested. At the time of going to print all three suspects were to appear in the Delmas District Court on November 15.
The 109 Ziploc bags, which were found hidden inside a couch.
Drugs and cash confiscated during a joint operation in Delmas.
Drugs and money confiscated during a successful joint operation in Delmas.
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Minister John Steenhuisen commends efforts in combating stock theft
Today, the Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen praised the Delmas Valke and AfriForum for its contributions to fighting stock theft, a crime that affects farmers across the country.
"Stock theft is a big threat to our agricultural community. Despite facing droughts and other tough conditions, our farmers work tirelessly to contribute to our economy, create on-farm jobs and sustain our rural areas,” the minister said.
AfriForum's new stock theft training module has already shown results, with AfriForum's Delmas Hawks neighbourhood watch members seizing 64 stolen cattle worth R960 000 in two operations.
The minister emphasised that collaborations between organisations like AfriForum and the South African Police Service (SAPS) are key in the fight against these crimes.
“These collaborative efforts are invaluable in keeping our farmers able to continue their work," he said.
He also called for a stronger police presence in rural areas to keep property and people safe and victims confident to report these crimes. Experts estimate that only about 30% of stock theft incidents are reported because of the perception that the SAPS do not care or that it is just a time-wasting exercise.
In the past financial year, 190 000 head of livestock, including 80 600 sheep, 55 700 goats and 53 600 cattle were reported stolen to SAPS in 25 606 complaints. AfriForum's calculations show that stock theft cost the agricultural industry at least R200 million in direct losses in the fourth quarter of 2024/2025 (January to March 2025) and R880 million in direct losses for cattle, sheep and goats from April 2024 to March 2025.
Stock theft is a serious threat to food security in the country as when livestock are stolen, it results in a decrease in the supply of meat, milk and other animal products. Addressing this crime should be a collective responsibility.
For media enquiries, please contact: Ms Joylene van Wyk Director: Media Liaison Ministry Cell: 083 292 7399 Email: Joylenev@nda.gov.za
On 25 August, AfriForum’s Delmas Valke neighbourhood watch helped arrest a murder suspect in collaboration with Titen Security and the South African Police Service (SAPS). This came after a marked vehicle, which was involved in a case of attempted murder of a police officer in Vryheid, was spotted on one of the CCTV systems of the neighbourhood watch.
The neighbourhood watch immediately circulated the footage and requested security companies to be on the lookout for the vehicle. A member of Titen Security spotted the vehicle on the R548 towards Devon. Members of AfriForum’s Delmas Valke neighbourhood watch, Titen Security and Devon SAPS pulled it over and searched it.
The SAPS escorted the suspect to his residence, where they found documents linking him to the case of attempted murder and arrested him.
“This case shows that good technology and cooperation between role players can curb crime,” says Carel Botha, leader of AfriForum’s Delmas Valke neighbourhood watch.
This neighbourhood watch invites the community to become involved. Click here and join AfriForum’s Delmas Valke neighbourhood watch today.
AfriForum se Delmas Valke-buurtwag het in Maart wéér verskeie noemenswaardige suksesse in dié streek se stryd teen misdaad behaal en in dié maand alleen toegesien dat 15 vermeende misdadigers vir uiteenlopende misdade aangekeer word. Dit bring die totale aantal arrestasies wat dié buurtwag in die eerste drie maande van die jaar uitgevoer het, op meer as 35 te staan.
Buurtwaglede se paraatheid en ingesteldheid op veiligheid is in Maart tydens een van dié voorvalle gedemonstreer toe ’n lid van die Delmas Valke-buurtwag tydens ’n gesprek met ’n kennis ’n verdagte bakkie opgemerk het. Die buurtwaglid het spoedig gereageer en in samewerking met plaaslike sekuriteitsmaatskappye die voertuig voorgekeer. Die bestuurder van die voertuig is op die toneel gearresteer. Die ander verdagtes het egter te voet gevlug. ’n Vrag bestaande uit 21 sakke groenmielies is in die aangekeerde se besit gevind. Die vrag is vermoedelik op een van die plase in die Delmas-omgewing gesteel.
Benewens die rits arrestasies, het dié buurtwag ook in Maart toegesien dat twee voertuie, wat na bewering gebruik is in misdade, by die plaaslike polisiestasie ingeboek word. Die buurtwag se mediese span het op hulle beurt op 24 mediese ongevalle, insluitende motorongelukke en ongevalle na aanleiding van misdade, gereageer.
“Ons buurtwag is ten volle toegewyd aan die beveiliging van Delmas. Die maandelikse suksesse is ’n bewys hiervan,” beklemtoon Carel Botha, voorsitter van AfriForum se Delmas-tak.
Raak vandag nog betrokke by AfriForum se Delmas-tak. Besoek: www.wordlid.co.za vir meer inligting.
Soortgelyke plasings
Minister vol lof vir Delmas Valke wat vee blitsig vind
Twintig gesteelde koeie waarvan die oorplaatjies afgesny is, is deur die Delmas Valke en polisie op die toneel waar die gesteelde vee gelaai is, gevind. (Bron: Pixabay, ter illustrasie)
AfriForum se Delmas Valke-buurtwag het die afgelope week in twee afsonderlike voorvalle altesaam meer as 60 gesteelde beeste ter waarde van bykans een miljoen rand teruggevind.
Die 64 beeste ter waarde van R960 000 is verlede Sondag en Maandag tydens ‘n gesamentlik operasie van die Delmas Valke en die polisie teruggevind.
Klopjagte wat Saterdag by twee veilingkrale op Sundra gedoen is, en 53 gesteelde koeie opgelewer. Nege van die koeie kon geëien word as die van ‘n boer van Bethal wat die diefstal van 45 koeie by die polisie aangemeld het.
‘n Verdagte wat aangekeer is het die laaiplek buite Hendrina uitgewys en nog 20 beeste, waarvan die plaatjies van die ore afgesny is, is op die toneel gevind. Een van die plaatjies van ‘n veilingskraalkoei is gevind en kon teruggespoor word na ‘n boer in die Hendrika-distrik.
Die Delmas Valke en polisie het die spore sowat 20 km ver gevolg en teen Sondagmiddag was 53 koeie, 33 van die Bethalboer se 45 koeie, reeds teruggevind.
Volgens Hennie Bekker, AfriForum se distrikskoördineerder vir Mpumalanga Hoëveld, is wee verdagtes steeds op vrye voet.
Hennie meen die operasie was ‘n reuse sukses en dokumentasie waarop beslag gele is, toon dat die diefstal waarskynlik die werk van ‘n sindikaat is. Die dokumentasie sluit vervalste brandmerkdokumente in wat gebruik is om die beeste by die veilingkraal te registreer, asook persoonlike dokumente van een van die voortvlugtendes wat sal help om hom vas te trek.
Minister vol lof vir Delmas Valke
John Steenhuisen, minister van landbou, was Vrydagmiddag vol lof vir die Delmas Valke en Afriforum se bydrae in die stryd teen veediefstal wat boere landwyd teister.
“Veediefstal is ‘n groot bedreiging vir ons landbougemeenskap. Al word hulle in die gesig gestaar deur droogtes en ander uitdagings, werk hulle onverpoosd om by te dra tot ons ekonomie, werkskepping en die voortbestaan van landelike gebiede,” het hy in ‘n mediaverklaring gesê.
Die minister het beklemtoon dat samewerking tussen AfriForum en die polisie die sleutel tot suksesvolle optrede teen hierdie tipe misdaad is. “Hierdie gesamentlike pogings is waardevol om ons boere te help om hulle werk voort te sit.”
Hy bepleit sterker polisieteenwoordigheid in landelike gebiede ten einde eiendom en mense te beskerm en slagoffers van veediefstal die vrymoedigheid te gee om na vore te kom. Kundiges meen hoeka slegs 30% van veediefstalle word aangemeld omdat die opvatting bestaan dat die polisie nie omgee nie of dit as tydmors beskou om veediefstalsake op te volg.
In die afgelope finansiële jaar is 190 000 stuks vee, insluitend 53 600 beeste 80 600 skape en 55 700 bokke in 25 606 sake by die polisie aangemeld.
Volgens hom werp Afriforum se aanlyn-opleiding om veediefstal hok te slaan reeds vrugte af. Die eerste kursus wat op 18 Junie aangebied is, is deur AfriForum se buurt- en plaaswaglede van oral in die land bygewoon.
Enorme verliese
AfriForum se beraming dui daarop dat veediefstal die landboubedryf ten minste R200 miljoen direkte verliese tydens die vierde kwartaal van 2024/2025 (Januarie tot Maart 2025) gelei het.
Steenhuisen meen veediefstal is ‘n ernstige bedreiging vir voedselsekerheid in die land want as vee gesteel word, lei dit tot ‘n afname in die aanbod van vleis, melk en ander diereprodukte. Hy beklemtoon dit is almal se verantwoordelikheid om die soort misdaad aan te spreek.
Kursus
Volgens Hennie, wat die kursus teen veediefstal saamgestel het, word die Oos-Kaap, waar 1 628 gevalle van veediefstal in die laaste kwartaal van 2024/2025 aanmeld is, die ergste deur die misdaad geteister. Oor dieselfde tydperk is 569 voorvalle in Mpumalanga aangemeld. Ses polisiekantore in die provinsie tel ook onder die 30 waar die meeste gevalle aangemeld word.
In die laaste kwartaal is meer as 19 000 skape, sowat 12 000 beeste en 12 000 bokke landwyd gesteel, en die afgelope jaar is meer as 25 600 gevalle van veediefstal aangemeld.
“Hierdie syfers skep nie die ware prentjie van die probleem nie. Boere bestee miljoene rande aan wagte en tegnologie om hulle kuddes te beskerm. Dit, tesame met die ekonomiese druk op die vleismark, bring boere by die punt waar dit feitlik onmoontlik is om winsgewend te boer.”
Hy sê die foutiewe klassifikasie van veediefstal en gevalle waar die polisie traag is om gevalle aan te teken, lol ook.
“Dit is veral kommerwekkend wanneer ‘n boer wat diefstal ter waarde van meer as R100 000 wou aanmeld, by drie polisiekantore weggewys is.”
Hennie gee toe dat die polisie se veediefstaleenheid ernstige uitdagings ervaar weens te min personeel en te min, albeit onbetroubare voertuie wat lang afstande op moeilike terrein moet aflê in die tamaai gebiede wat hulle moet bedien.
Volgens hom raak veediefstal sindikate ook al meer uitgeslape en weet presies hoe om die uitdagings wat die landelike gebiede ervaar tot hulle voordeel uit te buit.
Gesteelde vee word oor provinsiale grense heen verskuif, wat dit nog moeiliker maak om die vee op te spoor. Die vee word by veilings of spekulante honderde kilometers van die misdaadtoneel af verkoop. Boonop is polisielede nie altyd goed opgelei om op te tree om veediefstal te bekamp nie.
Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum se hoof woordvoerder oor gemeenskapsveiligheid beklemtoon dat die gemeenskappe se samewerking noodsaaklik is vir die suksesvolle bekamping van veediefstal. “Dit is uiters belangrik dat boere by hulle plaaslike landelike veiligheidstrukture soos AfriForum se plaaswagte inskakel om die gevalle onmiddellik aan te meld wanneer die polisie nie sake wil registreer nie.”
AfriForum het meer as 170 buurt- en plaaswageenhede landwyd en hulle weet wat die uitdagings is wat veediefstaleenhede ervaar. Die opleidingsprogram is juis geskep om AfriForum se eie lede op te lei om die veediefstalprobleem aan te spreek.
Word ‘n lid van AfriForum en help om ‘n verandering te maak. Besoek die webtuiste by www.wordlid.co.za vir meer inligting.
By following these principles, members commit to upholding the values, reputation, and operational effectiveness of the Delmas Valke Buurtwag, while actively contributing to the safety, unity, and well-being of the community. Changes to this Valke Code of Conduct are effective when they are posted on this page.
