Newly-wed presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko has become the latest stock theft victim after 24 cattle, paid for her lobola, were stolen in Mthatha.
Her family is still angered by the theft, despite a happy ending, saying they were “dismayed by heartless livestock thieves who had no respect for the sacredness of lobola and no fear of the ancestors’ wrath”.
Khusela, whose maiden name is Sangoni, is a princess of AbaThembu of the Nobetha royal clan, with her family ruling over several villages in Qokolweni near Mthatha.
Her uncle is retired Eastern Cape Judge President Themba Sangoni, while another is Qokolweni-Zimbane Traditional Council head Nkosi Zwelihle Sangoni. She married AmaBhaca royal Thandisizwe Diko on December 14 in Mthatha and in KwaBhaca, formerly Mount Frere, on December 15.
Thandisiwe had paid an undisclosed sum for lobola, which included the 24 stolen cattle.
The cattle, which were grazing on nearby communal grazing land, were all stolen on December 27 – barely two weeks after the wedding.
The Dispatch was unable to reach Diko for comment on Wednesday.
Nkosi Sangoni confirmed that all 24 cattle, which have since been recovered, were part of the lobola payment. “We are just happy that all have been recovered and the suspects arrested,” said Sangoni.
“We are very thankful to that community because if it was not for them, we could not have recovered the cattle.
“If we could have such vigilant communities, we can win the battle against livestock theft,” said Sangoni.
The chief suspect has been identified by police as 34-year-old Parkies Lucky Lehlohonolo Madiki.
He appeared in the Mthatha magistrate’s court on Wednesday and his case was postponed to January 8.
Provincial police spokesperson Captain Khaya Tonjeni said three suspects, aged between 27 and 53, were arrested.
Tonjeni said all three would soon appear in the Mthatha magistrate’s court on stock theft charges.
He said Sangoni’s cattle formed part of about 100 others stolen in various parts of the province this festive season.
“Since the beginning of the festive season, the Eastern Cape Stock Theft Unit has recovered a lot of stock abandoned, straying, and in most cases unattended,” said Tonjeni.
He warned rural communities to be on the lookout whenever there were people driving stock or carrying stock in a truck or any other vehicle.
“Some abandoned houses in rural areas are used by stock thieves as a temporary storage until such animals are taken to the next destination,” said Tonjeni, who also warned those buying livestock to double-check ownership to avoid buying stolen stock.
Cradock police this week arrested four men aged between 23 and 24 years after spotting them loading five sheep on a bakkie near Molenhof Farm.
The suspects will soon appear before the Cradock magistrate’s court;
An operation held at Mgodini and Rockville locations in Flagstaff at the weekend resulted in the arrest of two men aged 33 and 58 found with three suspected stolen cattle.
They are expected to appear in the Flagstaff magistrate’s court on Thursday;
Six goats found straying at Qhankqu village in Qumbu were impounded while efforts to trace their rightful owner are undertaken;
Eight sheep were recovered last month at Ntshiqo village in Qumbu and handed over to their owner;
In Mthatha, 11 sheep were found abandoned in an old vacant house and have since been taken for safekeeping until claimed by owners; and
The Mbizana stock theft unit this week successfully recovered three cattle found straying at Maladini village and handed them over to their owners.
The unit last month also followed up on information of sheep kept in a forest at Mawusheni village in Mbizana and found 20 sheep tied with rope inside a shack built next to the forest.
“The complainant was located and positively identified all of his sheep,” said Tonjeni...