Man convicted of assaulting goats

A South African man from Mpumalanga was found guilty of beating two goats on separate occasions was given a suspended fine by the Tonga Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Sipho Makamo, 25, of Mzinti near Malalane, pleaded guilty to two charges of animal cruelty, a Sapa correspondent reported.

Makamo's legal aid representative Refiloe Tsotetsi read out a plea explanation in which he admitted that what he did was a serious crime.

Prosecutor Frederick Mhelembe said Makamo should apologise to the public.

"Makamo, what you did is not acceptable in the community. When you abused those goats and sent clips to social media you felt like a hero, but now you have traumatised people who watched those videos," he said.

Magistrate Sibonisiwe Sibuyi said Makamo had done well by pleading guilty.

"I am happy that you pleaded guilty and I find you guilty as charged," she said.

Makamo was fined R6 000 or six months in jail, suspended for five years.