Pig theft suspect shot

A UITENHAGE man was arrested yesterday after he shot dead a man trying to steal his pigs.

The man, 53, who cannot be named until he appears in court, was sleeping at his KwaNobuhle kraal to guard his pigs due to a spate of stock theft in the area.

The man claims he was woken up by someone trying to force his front door open early yesterday.

Two shots were fired through the door and one outside.

Police spokesman Warrant Officer Basil Seekoei said the man fired the third shot at the suspect while he was climbing over a boundary wall.

"The owner alerted the police. Authorities arrived and combed the area looking to see if the suspect was hiding nearby."

Seekoei said the body of a man, 23, was found about 120m from the house.

"The suspect was shot in the upper leg and the bullet appears to have gone through both legs. He died at the scene."

The house owner was arrested and his legally owned firearm confiscated for ballistic tests.

The man is due to appear in the KwaNobuhle Magistrate's Court today. Eastern Cape farmers recently lashed out at stock thieves, saying they were crippling the industry which in turn would have an effect on meat and wool prices in years to come.

A week ago, the Uitenhage stock theft unit arrested four suspected thieves believed to be part of a major stock theft gang responsible for stealing hundreds of sheep and pigs in recent months.

Police are linking the group to other stock theft cases in areas such as Greenbushes, Addo, Cookhouse, Kirkwood, Wolwefontein and Cradock. - Gareth Wilson