Goat theft rocks small-scale farmer
A Petit farmer is devastated after five beloved goats were stolen from her property. The emotional toll goes beyond the financial loss, with the animals described as part of the family.
Animal lover and small-scale goat farmer Tamsyn Nienaber is heartbroken after five of her goats were stolen from her property in Petit on the night of July 3.
A worker discovered the theft the next morning. There was a hole in the goat enclosure, believed to be the point of entry that the criminals used.
“We tried looking for tracks because when you drag a goat, it usually resists by anchoring its feet into the soil. But there were no signs. I’m not sure if they were carried on people’s backs or loaded into a bakkie.”
Nienaber, who started goat farming in 2021, said the loss was not only financial but also deeply emotional.
“It’s not about the money for me. My goats are my passion; part of my identity. I’ve raised them with love and care. They even come into the house and stay with us for up to three months when they’re young. I’ve taken them to my work. My children at school call me the ‘GOAT’, the Greatest of all Time.”
She is frustrated that thieves increasingly target small-scale farmers.
“It is devastating. It’s like someone stealing my dog. Just because a goat is considered livestock doesn’t make it less lovable or valuable than any other pet.”
To recover the stolen animals, the family is offering a reward for any information that leads to the identification of the perpetrators or the recovery of the goats.
“I’m appealing to people who attend livestock auctions or frequent animal traders. Please be on the lookout. They are tame and comfortable around humans. They will stand out,” she said.
The goats are FJ, a two-year-old ram with white speckles on his ears, and Rory, a 10-month-old ram with prominent white ear markings. Chevi, a year-old ewe with a light-coloured face, has a small white mark, a curved left horn and a straight-growing right horn.
Sparky, who is heavily pregnant, has a white blaze down her face and a longer left horn. Ruby, also heavily pregnant, has a dark-coloured head, no facial markings and scars on her rear right leg.
Anyone with information is urged to contact their nearest police station. Crystal Park SAPS have opened a case of stock theft.
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