Stock theft suspects appear in Dundee Magistrate’s Court
Numerous other stock theft cases have been reported at various police stations in the Dundee area, with one livestock owner losing 13 cattle in Sithembile Location, Glencoe, in April this year.
Two suspects appeared in the Dundee Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday morning last week, facing charges of stock theft.
The suspects were apprehended by private security guards and farmers who were doing night patrols on Gladstone Farm on the Dundee Wasbank Road in the early hours of July 29.
The suspected criminals were handed over to Dundee SAPS after being found in possession of a carcass. The value of the carcass is estimated at R20,000.
A large crowd of farmers and community members attended the bail application proceedings of Siphiwe Ndaba (27) and Sizwe Ndaba (30).
They were represented by Legal Aid attorney Suifah Hoosen.
Both suspects have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The case resumed with the state calling the first witness, D/Sergeant T Kunene, to the stand. He gave evidence that the two suspects are alleged to have entered the farm in the early hours of the morning and slaughtered a Jersey cow with a spear, which had blood on the point.
He also testified that the carcass was hacked into pieces and put into cooler boxes, which were found in their possession. According to the brand marks and tags on the head, the animal belonged to Mr Peter Durham.
The second witness, Mzwakhe Sithebe, testified that he is a member of the Endowment Civic Association and there are three farmers’ associations in the Endumeni area which help the farming community in the fight against crime. He also testified that the crime-rate concerning stock theft is very high and that since the arrests, the rate has dropped, with fewer dockets being investigated by the Stock Theft Unit and farmers using private security companies to protect their livestock and properties.
Defence attorney Suifah Hoosen then read out affidavits for the accused, with reasons why they should be granted bail.
It was said that accused no. 1, Siphiwe Ndaba, is single and self-employed, with no pending cases / convictions and can afford R600 bail.
Accused no. 2, Sizwe Ndaba, was also said to be a single, self-employed bread winner who can afford R600. It was further said that he was assaulted by security officials when arrested. Application was made to the court for medical records to be submitted as evidence.
The case has been remanded to October 17 for judgement on the bail application.
Numerous other stock theft cases have been reported at various police stations in the Dundee area, with one livestock owner losing 13 cattle in Sithembile Location, Glencoe, in April this year. The animals have not been recovered. Some farmers say there has been an increase in stock theft over the past few months and that they are losing thousands of rands as a result of this crippling crime.
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