Man found guilty of stock theft
Mbokane said after a few days, Mndebele smuggled the cows over the Swaziland border and sold them to a Swazi national at Bhunya.
A man of Elukwatini near Badplaas who was arrested late last year for stock theft, was sentenced to an effective 10 years in prison for the crime.
Sihle Mbovu Mndebele (40) was arrested by D/Sgt Jabulani Zitha of the Elukwatini Stock Theft Unit.
Spokesman for the police, Sgt Peace Mbokane said Mndebele was sentenced by the Carolina Regional Court last Tuesday (January 12) after a lengthy period of being in and out of the court.
According to Mbokane, Mndebele first clashed with the law when he tricked four younger boys, which included his son, to help him to collect cattle at a Badplaas farm on a Monday May 18, 2015 in exchange for a handsome remuneration.
“He showed them a document authorising him to transport the animals. They believed it to be genuine and that he owned the animals. He led them to the alleged farm where he separated 25 cattle which he identified as his from a herd of other cattle and they were then taken to Fernie,” said Mbokane.
Mbokane said after a few days, Mndebele smuggled the cows over the Swaziland border and sold them to a Swazi national at Bhunya.
A case of stock theft was opened by the legitimate owner of the cattle at Badplaas and the docket was assigned to D/Sgt Zitha who, according to Mbokane managed to arrest three of the suspect’s accomplices within a day after the case was opened. They told him how they were tricked and lured into a trap by Mndebele, who made them believe that he was the rightful owner of the stock.
“Zitha also traced the main suspect (Mndebele) and found him at Warburton. However, when he tried to arrest him, Mndebele fought tooth and nail to resist and eventually managed to escape when community members came to his aid,” said Mbokane.
Not deterred Zitha cornered Mndebele again within a month in Fernie Trust and arrested him.
Mndebele appeared in court for several times until he was sentenced by the Carolina Regional court last Tuesday. He is currently serving his sentence at Carolina Prison.
The station commander of Elukwatini SAPS, Col Precious Mabuza praised the dedicated detective for ensuring that justice prevailed. “Stock theft is one of the stubborn crimes in our area but I am happy that we have a dedicated member who brings his part to cater for the exigencies of bringing to book transgressors of such a crime,” she said.
