He says he's a dead man walking but won't be bullied into quitting farming, says a farmer who is a victim of constant stock theft. He complains that whenever he opens a case, the police withdraw it the next day or weeks after. When Zimoja interviews he says he has received death threats that he shouldn't speak to people he doesn't know and that is why he doesn't want his identity shared or known. "Last night I got a call not to speak to you because my life will be on the line, but what's the point because my life is at risk and not even the police care to help." This farmer is vocal at the height of the discovery of 700 stolen cattle at a chicken run in Zuurbekom, west of Johannesburg.

THEY USE MUTHI

The farmer, who resides in the West Rand, tells Zimoja that his first theft incident was on the 26 of April. "14 cows were stolen that night and that time my kraal was still outside. I went and opened a case with the police and told them that I followed leads and it pointed me to Zuurbekom. They refused to escort me and the next day I received a message that my case was withdrawn." He said the second incident was on 16 June after he moved the kraal inside the yard.                                           "There's muthi they use to make us fall asleep while they escort the cattle out. A bakkie was parked at the kraal entrance and they pushed it aside. They took 25 cows, I was alerted by my son in the morning when he noticed the gates opened. Luckily we went on a search with other farmers and found them grazing in Waterpan - they were heading towards Zuurbekom," he said.

USING RIFLES

The farmer said he noticed that the thieves come every seven weeks. "They came on the 3rd of August and I was very sick that night. My son woke me up to say they were people at the gate and they had guns. By the time I woke up they had already started shooting and my son survived a bullet that was meant for him."He said they came closer and he started opening fire pushing them back until they ran off.                                                                                                                                                  "They were using rifles and a pistol and I have footage of them. Some of them I know and notified the police but still they couldn't help me. There's more than 20 holes in my house from that shooting. My family is at risk but if I stop this business how are we going to survive?" he asks. He says the police responded quickly that night and even forensics came.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                "They cleared the scene and took the shells.   Days passed and I received a call from a detective who said he's handling the case. He came and took statements but the next day I received a message from him claiming that the matter has been withdrawn by the prosecutor."

THEY SLAUGHTER THE COWS

He said even he called the officer told him he will get update on the case but that was the last time he heard from him.                                                                                     "When I heard that there was livestock discovered in Zuurbekom  I rushed there with the hope of recovering mine. Unfortunately they sell the cows and slaughter them to sell to butcheries. Farmers are on their own and we are being failed by the police. They promised to do patrols around the area but that never happens."                     SAPS spokeswoman Colonel Dimakatso Sello said, "If the complainant is not happy or satisfied with the service received from the local police, he/she is urged to lay a formal complaint with the Station Commander, District Commander or report to the the Gauteng Service Complaints Centre on 082 442 2000 so that necessary steps can be followed."