Chronicle EditorCodelia Mondela, Court Reporter
A-26-year-old herdsman from Nyamandlovu allegedly stole two heifers and 10 goats worth $1 100 from his employer.
Beetwell Ncube appeared before magistrate Ms Sthembiso Ncube facing a stocktheft charge.
He pleaded not guilty and Ms Ncube remanded him in custody to August 10 for continuation of trial.
Ncube told the court that he never stole from his employer Mr Nkani Khoza (57). “I only know that there was a disease affecting the livestock and four goats succumbed to the disease,” he said.
However, Mr Khoza gave a version of what transpired.
“I visited the farm and discovered that two heifers and 10 goats were missing. I asked Ncube who replied saying the heifers and the goats were in the bush.
On my next visit I discovered that the same animals were still missing and I inquired from Ncube, but he did not give me an answer so I called the police,” he said.
“Ncube disappeared before the police arrived. I had tasked someone to investigate the missing livestock and it was discovered that Ncube had built two illegal pens in the bush which I suspect that he used to pen the livestock.”
Prosecuting, Ms Tafadzwa Mutsambiwa said sometime in January this year, Mr Khoza noticed that his livestock were missing and he asked Ncube.
“Ncube said the animals were grazing in the fields. Mr Khoza assigned him to look for the livestock but he never gave feedback on what happened to the livestock,” she said.
Ms Mutsambiwa said a report was made to the police. “A week after the complainant was made Ncube disappeared from the farm, taking the generator keys,” she said. — @MondelaC
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter