On 20 February 2026, a 58-year-old Brandvlei man found himself on the wrong side of the law, after he was found in possession of a protected tortoise, which he allegedly intended to sell.
Acting on a tip-off received, information was swiftly operationalised and members proceeded to a street in Brandvlei, where the suspect was located.
The male was found in possession of a tortoise and was unable to produce the required permit authorising him to keep the protected animal and was subsequently arrested and charged under the Nature Conservation Act for the illegal possession of a protected animal.
