Goat Rape Suspect Not Yet Charged
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Tuesday September 28, 2021 06:00
The alleged animal cruelty incident that took place at Sepale ward, Dovedale on August 5, 2021, under the jurisdiction of the Machaneng police, has not reached the courts to date.
Machaneng Police Station commander, Superintended Gaopale Gaselarona said the alleged bestiality case is still pending at their police station because they are still gathering evidence against the suspect.
Gaselarona stated that even though the suspect allegedly committed the crime last month, he has not appeared before the Magistrate's court because they are waiting for the results from the forensic laboratory in order to tighten their case before the court.
According to the Machaneng police boss, bestiality is an unnatural offence and if the suspect is found guilty of the crime he will be sentenced to a minimum sentence of seven years in prison. He indicated that at the moment the suspect is at home. Gaselarona added once the investigations are complete and they have concrete evidence against him, he will have charges brought against him, arrested and be taken to court.
When speaking about what transpired, he said that on August 5 in the morning, it was reported that Dovedale villagers in Sepale ward were woken up by a strange noise coming from a goat whining uncontrollably.
He indicated that a group of concerned villagers then sought out the bleating goat fearing it was being attacked by predators.
“The worried villagers searched the entire surrounding and found nothing, but the goat's whining persisted. The strange sound of the goat eventually led to one compound in the same ward,” Gaselarona narrated.
He further said when they entered the yard the whining of the goat became worse coming from the direction of the suspect’s house. He indicated that the villagers then found the goat inside the suspect’s house and questioned him why he abducted the goat as it did not belong to him.
The Machaneng station commander added the villagers then filed a complaint with the police as they suspected that the 28-year-old man raped the animal.
Investigations on the matter are still ongoing. This is not the first bestiality incident in the country as back in 2015, a Zimbabwean man aged 23 was accused of unlawfully having carnal knowledge of a donkey on August 27 at Phuduhudu lands near Palapye.