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22 September 2017
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One down… Some of the African Blue hounds used in the fight against timber theft, stock theft and poachers on farms and plantations in the Mopani District area. Right: some of the stolen timber that was confiscated through the hard work of the TTTF.
timber theft on both the rural and farming communities, the members of the TTTF have successfully garnered the support of local law enforcement which has directly led to this landmark prosecution. As promising as Monday’s conviction and subsequent sentencing is, the fight is far from over. On Wednesday afternoon, forestry workers on the JDM Keet plantation were robbed of two chainsaws at gunpoint. It is reported that three men entered the plantation and approached the workers. One of them was armed with a 9mm pistol. They demanded the workers hand over the chainsaws and a cellphone before fleeing the scene. Within minutes, Canine Security was activated and their bloodhounds picked up the trail. Soon after, the SAPS were called in to take over the matter after the dogs tracked
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the suspects to a compound in the area. Yesterday (Thursday) morning, the very same suspects, wearing the same clothes as the day before, were seen in the Halewood plantation. Security was again activated and the suspects fled. At the time of going to print, the search for the suspects was still underway and it was not clear whether they had been apprehended. There have been a number of other related arrests and vehicle seizures in the past two weeks with a list of cases now being investigated against known timber thieves and their associates. Through a very well maintained communications and information sharing network, foresters now have the ability to warn each other of suspicious activity, suspicious looking vehicles transporting timber off their plantations and are able to react to
emergency calls swiftly. Trucks transporting stolen timber have been stopped all the way down to Polokwane because of the communications among vigilant members of the forum. The TTTF have formed very close relationships with senior advocates, magistrates and prosecutors within the Justice Department ranks as well as senior members of the SAPS, who have pledged their allegiance to the fight against this scourge within the timber industry. Bulletin will publish updates on the outcomes of the various cases as they make their way before the courts and keep you updated on the developments in the fight against timber related crimes. — Joe Dreyer joe@bulletin.us.com
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The days of timber theft syndicates terrorizing the local forestry industry are numbered. The first of many suspects was charged and sentenced to two years in prison on his first offence, in the Tzaneen Magistrate’s court on Monday. Carlos Pamire, an illegal immigrant from Zimbabwe, was found in possession of 480 poles he stole off the Barett’s farm, Carthona, near Modjadjiskloof in July this year. He was apprehended by members of the forum, Canine Security, and his truck which he used to transport the stolen timber was confiscated by the Asset Forfeiture Unit. Since the formation of the Tzaneen Timber Theft Forum (TTTF) a month ago, there has been a decline in timber theft cases across all plantations in the area. Through creating awareness on the debilitating impact of
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