Cops bust for stock theft after Hawks act on tip-off received in wake of Brendin Horner murder
- Five police officers and two animal stock brokers were arrested on Tuesday in the Free State.
- Community members first raised the alarm about a stock theft syndicate when the police minister visited the area following Brendin Horner's murder.
- The group is expected to appear in the Ladybrand Magistrate's Court on Thursday.
Seven people, including five police officers, have been arrested on charges of stock theft in the Free State after the murder of Brendin Horner in Senekal brought allegations of police involvement in stock theft to light.
The officers and two animal stock brokers were arrested on Tuesday by the Hawks and the police's Tactical Response Team in Bloemfontein and Ladybrand as part of a larger investigation into stock theft in the province.
Hawks spokesperson Christopher Singo said the arrests stemmed from allegations by community members that police were involved in stock theft following the murder of Horner. The allegations were made during Police Minister Bheki Cele's engagement with the community after Horner's death.