Ermelo court sends four men to jail over stolen cattle worth R80 000
Four men have been sentenced to six years' imprisonment being convicted of stealing, rebranding and attempting to sell cattle worth about R80 000.
ERMELO – The Ermelo Regional Court sentenced four men to six years’ direct imprisonment each on August 6. They were found guilty of stock theft-related offences involving cattle valued at approximately R80 000.
Christopher Maredi, Harold Mogowane, Male Mogowane and Kleinboy Sithole were convicted of stealing, transporting, unlawfully rebranding and attempting to sell cattle through a livestock auction.
According to Monica Nyuswa, regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, the offences took place on July 20, 2023, when eight cattle were stolen from a kraal near Groblersdal.
Shortly after the theft, six of the stolen cattle were recovered in the possession of the accused after the complainant’s registered brand marks had allegedly been concealed with a fresh brand mark belonging to one of the accused.
The livestock was seized by the police for further investigation.
During the trial, the men pleaded not guilty and presented contradictory versions of events, including claims that the original seller of the cattle could not be identified or traced.
State prosecutor Charles Lloyd presented evidence from the complainant, who testified that the cattle had been secured in the kraal the previous evening. The following morning, he discovered that the fence had been cut and the cattle were missing.
He further testified to seeing a white Toyota Fortuner towing a trailer loaded with cattle drive away from one of the accused’s homesteads.
He later found two of his cattle and positively identified six of the stolen animals at an auction in Ermelo.
His testimony was supported by Warrant Officer Hennie Koch of the SAPS Stock Theft Unit, who testified about the investigation and recovery of the livestock. The court accepted the State’s evidence and found the complainant to be a credible witness before convicting all four accused.
In aggravation of sentence, Lloyd argued that the accused had acted in furtherance of a common purpose and that stock theft remains a prevalent and serious offence causing substantial financial losses to farmers while undermining rural livelihoods and economic sustainability.
“Stock theft continues to be one of the most serious crimes affecting rural communities. The harm suffered by farmers extends far beyond the value of the stolen animals and includes disruptions to breeding programmes, farming operations, food security, and the broader agricultural economy,” Nyuswa said.
“The NPA commends state prosecutor Charles Lloyd, Warrant Officer Hennie Koch, and all role players involved in the investigation and prosecution for their professionalism, dedication, and commitment, which ensured that justice was served,” Nyuswa concluded.
