News / Regional
Man (46) gets 36 years behind bars for stock theft
15 Aug 2012 at 06:41hrs | Views
A Beitbridge man, 46, linked to a notorious cattle rustling syndicate was on Friday sentenced to an effective 36 years in jail for stealing 15 head of cattle worth $6 500 from villagers.
Kepeletso Dube of Dendele village under Chief Sitauze pleaded not guilty to stock theft charges as defined in section 114 of the Criminal Law (Reform and Codification) Act, but was convicted by Beitbridge provincial magistrate Mrs Auxilia Chiumburu. The prosecutor, Mr Forster Abeki, said between 1 February and 3 March, Dube went to Zezani area where he found a herd of cattle grazing. The cattle belonged to local villagers.
He stole 15 head of cattle and drove them to his homestead in neighbouring Dendele village. Acting on a tip-off, police descended on Dube's homestead where they found the stolen cattle penned in a kraal.
However, Dube fled his home soon after spotting the police and he was only arrested the following day.
The stolen cattle were taken to Zezani Police Station where the complainants managed to positively identify them. Some of the recovered cattle had their brand marks and earmarks tampered with while others had been dehorned.
Kepeletso Dube of Dendele village under Chief Sitauze pleaded not guilty to stock theft charges as defined in section 114 of the Criminal Law (Reform and Codification) Act, but was convicted by Beitbridge provincial magistrate Mrs Auxilia Chiumburu. The prosecutor, Mr Forster Abeki, said between 1 February and 3 March, Dube went to Zezani area where he found a herd of cattle grazing. The cattle belonged to local villagers.
He stole 15 head of cattle and drove them to his homestead in neighbouring Dendele village. Acting on a tip-off, police descended on Dube's homestead where they found the stolen cattle penned in a kraal.
However, Dube fled his home soon after spotting the police and he was only arrested the following day.
The stolen cattle were taken to Zezani Police Station where the complainants managed to positively identify them. Some of the recovered cattle had their brand marks and earmarks tampered with while others had been dehorned.
Source - Courts
