Byline: Refiloe Letsoisa
31 March 2026
Bethal stock theft unit investigating officers secured convictions of four accused for stealing and slaughtering livestock belonging to the local farmers.
The convictions came after the dedication and hard work of Detective Sergeant Dumisani Magagula and Detective Mandla Motaung towards investigating the cases, which were reported in June 2025 and February 2026, allocated to them for investigation.
In June 2025, the accused, Sethu Prince Mpanza, allegedly unlawfully and intentionally cut off the fence of a kraal at Bankpan farm in Bethal and stole forty-five cattle.
The farmer, who is the lawful owner of the cattle, informed the unit commander about the incident, and the commander informed him that he would conduct preliminary investigations at the livestock auctions.
Upon the preliminary investigations, Mr Mpanza was found in possession of thirty cattle at the Sundra livestock auction, which were positively identified by the lawful owner. Mpanza was arrested for theft of livestock and possession of stolen property.
After his arrest, he made several appearances at Bethal magistrate’s court, facing charges of livestock theft, where witnesses testified against him.
He was found guilty and sentenced to twenty-four months imprisonment with an option of a fine of ten thousand rand and was further declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of section 103(2) Act 60 of 2006 of Firearms Control Act.
In another incident that took place in February 2026, three suspects were arrested and charged for theft of livestock, fourteen sheep, which were stolen from the kraal at Skapkraal farm in Bethal.
It is alleged that the shepherd alerted the owner of the stock after noticing sheep at Mzinoni township with the same identification mark of the owner.
The owner drove to the area where the sheep were kept, and on arrival, he found other local farmers to check the brand or identification mark on the sheep.
There, we met the farmers from neighbouring farms to assist the police with preliminary investigations.
The complainant managed to identify eleven sheep with the brand mark, which were then handed back to him by the police.
After the arrest of the suspects, they appeared at the Bethal Magistrate’s Court on charges of theft of stock, and the court did not hesitate to prosecute the matter. Based on the evidence provided by the investigating officer and the witnesses, the court recently found three accused guilty of the offence and sentenced them as follows:
Accused no 1: Mduduzi Madonsela(38) sentenced to twelve months imprisonment with an option of a ten thousand rand fine.
Accused no 2: Simon Molefe Ramakhele(74) sentenced to six months imprisonment with an option of a three-thousand-rand fine.
Accused no 3: Petros Thabang Magangane(33) was sentenced to six months imprisonment with an option of a fine of three thousand rand.
All accused were declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms section 103(2) Act 60 of 2006 of Firearms control Act.
Sergeant Thomas Mogadime from Bethal Police Station encouraged livestock owners to brand their livestock as it is compulsory and to show ownership.
He further encouraged them to:
* Brand all livestock to deter theft and ensure identification.
* Maintain a livestock register.
* Report all stock theft incidents immediately to the local SAPS Stock Theft Unit.
* Report stray animals to the police.
