Six men arrested earlier this year for stocktheft have been sentenced to a combined 51 years in prison for the crime.
They were arrested by the Eastern Cape stocktheft unit based in the Mount Fletcher police cluster.
Mount Fletcher police spokesman Lieutenant Raphael Motloung said the men were sentenced in three separate cases where a total of 89 sheep had been stolen from different farms.
In one case Lesotho national Tsiliso Mosenye, 24, who was accused of stealing 58 sheep from Brayside farm near Matatiele, was sentenced to eight years in jail by the Kokstad Regional Court last week.
“This man stole the sheep in March.
“The sheep were sold to residents of KwaMzongwa village but police found 45 sheep while they were still alive,” said Motloung.
“Thirteen were already slaughtered and police detectives found their heads and hides hidden in a hole on one of the farms.”
In another case four Mount Ayliff men – Mzwandile Hlwili, Zwelandile Nokwabuza, Mabhekela Nonjanja and Nogwabuza Solephi – were found guilty by the same court of stealing 30 sheep from Rasfontein farm near Matatiele in December last year.
“Hlwili, 53, was sentenced to 15 years in jail.
“Nokwabuza and Nonjanja received 10 years.
“Solephi was sentenced to 12 years but half his sentence was suspended for five years.”
In the third matter, Xolani Akhosi from Magasela village was sentenced to two years in jail for stealing just one sheep.
It came from Eureka farm, also near Matatiele.
Motloung said the incident took place in April 2012.
The sheep was recovered by the stock theft unit at Akhosi’s homestead.
“This was a job well done by the stock theft unit in the area.
“Even if a person has stolen one sheep the police will track down and arrest that person. What has happened now will be a lesson to other aspiring thieves out there,” said Motloung.
lOn Monday a 63-year-old businessman from Cedarville was arrested together with a 24-year-old man after they were found in possession of an undisclosed number of stolen sheep.
Motloung said police had also found a number of sheep hides in their possession. “After a lengthy police investigation the two were arrested and charged with stock theft.
“This is a warning that if people are busy stealing the livestock of others police will track them down.
“This is also so shocking because prominent business people are also involved in this theft.
“Some sell the stolen meat in their businesses,” said Motloung.
The businessman and his alleged accomplice were expected to appear in court yesterday but the Dispatch was unable to ascertain the outcome at the time of writing. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
Stock thieves sent to prison
They were arrested by the Eastern Cape stocktheft unit based in the Mount Fletcher police cluster.
Mount Fletcher police spokesman Lieutenant Raphael Motloung said the men were sentenced in three separate cases where a total of 89 sheep had been stolen from different farms.
In one case Lesotho national Tsiliso Mosenye, 24, who was accused of stealing 58 sheep from Brayside farm near Matatiele, was sentenced to eight years in jail by the Kokstad Regional Court last week.
“This man stole the sheep in March.
“The sheep were sold to residents of KwaMzongwa village but police found 45 sheep while they were still alive,” said Motloung.
“Thirteen were already slaughtered and police detectives found their heads and hides hidden in a hole on one of the farms.”
In another case four Mount Ayliff men – Mzwandile Hlwili, Zwelandile Nokwabuza, Mabhekela Nonjanja and Nogwabuza Solephi – were found guilty by the same court of stealing 30 sheep from Rasfontein farm near Matatiele in December last year.
“Hlwili, 53, was sentenced to 15 years in jail.
“Nokwabuza and Nonjanja received 10 years.
“Solephi was sentenced to 12 years but half his sentence was suspended for five years.”
In the third matter, Xolani Akhosi from Magasela village was sentenced to two years in jail for stealing just one sheep.
It came from Eureka farm, also near Matatiele.
Motloung said the incident took place in April 2012.
The sheep was recovered by the stock theft unit at Akhosi’s homestead.
“This was a job well done by the stock theft unit in the area.
“Even if a person has stolen one sheep the police will track down and arrest that person. What has happened now will be a lesson to other aspiring thieves out there,” said Motloung.
lOn Monday a 63-year-old businessman from Cedarville was arrested together with a 24-year-old man after they were found in possession of an undisclosed number of stolen sheep.
Motloung said police had also found a number of sheep hides in their possession. “After a lengthy police investigation the two were arrested and charged with stock theft.
“This is a warning that if people are busy stealing the livestock of others police will track them down.
“This is also so shocking because prominent business people are also involved in this theft.
“Some sell the stolen meat in their businesses,” said Motloung.
The businessman and his alleged accomplice were expected to appear in court yesterday but the Dispatch was unable to ascertain the outcome at the time of writing. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos