Two men dragged to court for stealing, slaughtering a cow

TWO men who are accused of stealing a cow from a farm in Fort Rixon, Matabeleland South Province, before slaughtering it and selling the meat, have appeared in court for trial.

Jonathan Masuku (23) and Lungisani Tshabalala (30), both from Bulawayo’s Lobengula West suburb, appeared on Friday before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Challenge Mahembe, charged with stock theft.

Testifying, the accomplice witness, Liberty Mlalazi, told the court that he conspired with Masuku and Tshabalala to steal the cow and slaughter it.
“The cow strayed to our village. After that, Masuku, Tshabalala and I agreed to slaughter it. We sold it to a buyer who was found by Masuku. The buyer came in a Honda Fit and collected the meat. They gave me US$40,” said Mlalazi.

They allegedly threw the skin into a Blair toilet to conceal the crime.

The matter was postponed to 2 February for the continuation of the trial.

Prosecuting, Ms Brenda Ndlovu told the court that in August last year, Masuku and Tshabalala conspired with Mlalazi and went to Jabulani Sibasa’s farm, where they allegedly stole a cow valued at US$500.
“Mlalazi recently appeared in court alone, facing a stock theft charge and pleaded guilty. He is waiting to be sentenced. The cow they stole and slaughtered was branded GIA2F1. After a few weeks, while the cow was in the company of their herd, Masuku, Mlalazi and Tshabalala connived and slaughtered it. Thereafter, they sold the meat to a buyer who had been found by Masuku,” said Ms Ndlovu.

Sibasa reported the matter to the police after that Mlalazi handed himself to the police. Masuku and Tshabalala went into hiding after the police launched an investigation, leading to their arrest.