Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo

17 October 2025

The suspects identified as Kamohelo Mohatle, Lethabo Modikwa, Alex Chibi, and Prince Sinyora, accused one and two are Sotho nationals, meanwhile, three and four are Mozambican nationals

They made their first appearance before the Leslie periodical court on Friday, 17 October 2025, facing charges of stock theft and being in the country illegally. 

According to a report at police disposal, 12 cows were allegedly stolen and then slaughtered in two separate places around Leslie. The police were alerted and acted swiftly, following up on the information received.

Upon arriving at one of the places, members searched and then discovered seven (07) carcasses of slaughtered cows, to an estimated value of about R250 000.

Further information, provided through intelligence, led the astute members to a suspicious vehicle —a brown VW Amarok with Gauteng registration plates. The vehicle, with one occupant, was spotted during stop-and-search operations. Upon inspection of the car, meat was found inside.

Additional information led officers to another place, where five (05) more carcasses of slaughtered cattle, to an estimated value of about R175.000, inside the kraal. Four (04) suspects were then arrested at the scene, though two others fled, leaving behind the vehicle they were using.

The four were arrested and charged on Wednesday, 15 October 2025.

During their first appearances in court, cattle owners came out in numbers to submit a petition against their release on bail. 

“In a space of two months between August and September, I have lost 21 cattle. I no longer sleep in my bed as I’m guarding my Kraal at night. We are suffering as local farmers; we don’t agree with them getting bail because they are not traceable since they are foreigners. Also, once they are out on bail, they will steal again”, said one of the farmers who resides in Leslie township.

Chairperson of the Rural and Safety Committee in Leslie told the Seskhona media that the stock theft incidents have been going on for more than seven years now.

“From August till today, there have been (223) two hundred and twenty-three cattle stolen, slaughtered, and some found back. We have caught a lot of perpetrators before, and every time they are released on bail, our justice system is failing us as farmers,” said the chairperson of the Rural and Safety committee.

The matter was postponed to 22 October 2025 for a legal aid application and a possible bail application.