Two accused gets lengthy sentences for stock theft
This was after the farming community complained to the Provincial Commissioner Lt Gen Mondli Zuma of a stock theft syndicate in the area.
Zacharia Dube (52) and Elijah Mabasa (40) have been sentenced to to lenghty sentences by the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court for the theft of 21 cattle in 2015.
Mabasa pleaded guilty to the charges, he was sentenced to seven years imprisonment while Dube was sentenced to 29 years.
The two will be spending Christmas behind bars after they were convicted by the court on Friday.
The pair and a third accomplice were found red-handed stealing cattle worth the value of R310 000 at a Brakfontein farm outside Secunda.
This was after the farming community complained to the Provincial Commissioner Lt Gen Mondli Zuma of a stock theft syndicate in the area.
Zuma tasked the provincial Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation to investigate the complaints.
During trial third accused Christopher Kunene’s case was withdrawn after he turned state witness.
Mabasa seeing overwhelming evidence opted to plead guilty and was slapped with a seven years direct imprisonment.
On the other hand, Dube opted to fight it out in court but he lost the battle and was slapped with a 29 years sentence.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Maj Gen Zodwa Mokoena, welcomed the conviction adding that stock theft is a problem in Mpumalanga.
“The success has confirmed beyond any doubt, the professionalism and dedication of both the National Prosecuting Authority and the investigators for job well done. The DPCI welcomes the sentence as it will serve as a serious deterrence to the convicted criminals and would-be stock thieves,” she said.
Mokoena has further cautioned the community about incidents of stock theft in the province during the festive season.
