Collective 30 years in jail for three stock thieves
The Mankweng Regional Court heard that the trio had stolen 10 heads of cattle at Mmakata village in Ga Molepo while at a grazing field in February 2019.
POLOKWANE- The Regional Court in Mankweng handed down a collective sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment for three livestock thieves, on May 29.
The court found Ishmael Manamela (40), Abel Maboa (58) and David Semono(63) guilty of theft of livestock and possession of suspected stolen cattle, following a lengthy trial.
Each of the accused was sentenced to 10 years in prison, without the option of paying a fine.
The court heard that the trio had stolen 10 heads of cattle at Mmakata village in Ga Molepo, while at a grazing field on February 11, 2019. The three were eventually cornered by the police along the Roodeport road in the Westenburg policing area the day after, while heading to an auction in Mokopane while transporting the stolen cattle in a van with a trailer.
The accused fled the scene on foot and left behind the exhibit, said Limpopo police spokesperson, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi.
Through intensive investigations, it was found that the cattle had been stolen from the Mankweng policing area and a case of theft of livestock had already been opened by the owner. The cattle was positively identified through a unique brand mark.
Both cases of theft of livestock and possession of suspected stolen livestock were successfully investigated by Det Serg Botha Motsai of the Polokwane stock theft unit.
The provincial police commissioner, Lt Gen Thembi Hadebe applauded the police members for the sterling work done and their selflessness attitude towards putting the efforts into this lengthy investigation that yielded a successful trial with conviction and sentencing.
