Duo up for stealing cattle worth R50k

Zim Now Writer

Police have arrested two men from Tsholotsho, Bhekabantu Dube, 47, and Naison Ncube, 52, over accusations of stealing 10 head of cattle worth about R50 000 from Bulilima District.

The two were not asked to plead when they appeared briefly before Plumtree magistrate, Talent Phiri facing a charge of stock theft and were remanded in custody to January 20.

Prosecuting, Clement Mudenda said the duo stole 10 head of cattle from Mabhongwane grazing land belonging to two different villagers before driving the animals to the Dlamini area of Tsholotsho.

“Between 17 December, 2022 and 3 January, 2023 Dube and Ncube went to Mabhongwane grazing area where they stole 10 head of cattle belonging to two villagers. They drove the animals to Tsholotsho and they shared them. On 5 January, police received a tip-off from members of the community,” he said.

Mudenda said the police intercepted Dube while he was driving a herd of three of the stolen cattle to nearby grazing land and he implicated Ncube. The police went to Ncube’s homestead, Mudenda told the court, where they recovered four head of cattle. Ncube had already slaughtered one beast and sold it to villagers.

Mudenda said seven of the stolen beasts were recovered and were positively identified by their owners. The value of the stolen cattle is R50 000.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Loveness Mangena urged farmers to set up village anti-stock theft committees to guard against rustling which remained rampant across the province, adding farmers to brand their animals and ensure that they did not leave them unattended while grazing.