Three police officers, Sergeants Difedile Modisaotsile, 43, Mosimanegape Mokoena, 40, and Constable Lemogang Gaelesiwe, 31, attached to Vryburg Detectives were granted R1000,00 each upon appearance in the Vryburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 02 October 2025.
They are facing charges of stock theft, after being arrested on Tuesday evening, 30 September 2025, in Vryburg.
It is alleged a farmer at Broedersput farm realised upon counting that four of his sheep were missing.
According to the North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sam Tselanyane, a farmer allegedly walked around the farm and observed unknown vehicle’s tracks.
“That prompted him to check the CCTV camera, which showed a white Nissan NP300 bakkie that was driven in the farm. Preliminary investigations conducted after the incident was reported to the police, revealed that the vehicle belonged to Vryburg Detectives.
“Ensuing investigations by Vryburg K9, Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit (STES), District and Vryburg Detectives, Vryburg Crime Intelligence and Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) led the team to Dithakwaneng village outside Vryburg. Upon arrival at an RDP house, the members found two and a half sheep carcasses inside,” said Tselanyane.
The owner, Loeto Moncho (43) was arrested for possession of suspected stolen property.
He was released on R500,00 bail on appearance in the Vryburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 01 October 2025.
Moncho will reappear in court together with three police officials on Tuesday, 11 November 2025.
In reacting to the incident, the Acting Provincial Commissioner of North West, Major General Patrick Asaneng said: “The South African Police Service (SAPS) is not a place for disgraceful rogue elements such as these members who should languish in jail.”
On another unrelated matter, two officers stationed at Sun City Police Station were arrested in an undercover operation in Pretoria for possession of endangered specifies.
The two officers allegedly accompanied by two civilians were selling pangolins for R 160 000. 00. It was as they were concluding a deal with an alleged buyer when undercover officers pounced on them.
On Friday, 03 October 2025, the MEC for the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management Wessels Morweng welcomed the arrest of five police officers for stock theft and possession of endangered animals.
Morweng said though arrest of police officers is regrettable this is nonetheless a further indication that no one is above the law.
“In order to clean the system and restore confidence of communities in law enforcement as a whole, we have to arrest those that contravene the law among our ranks. We welcome their arrest and applaud the police applying the law indiscriminately”, said Morweng.
