Customary Court produce complex decisions

Last Wednesday, the court freed a Metlojane man who was serving a five-year custodial sentence for stock theft. In the court's determination, stealing animal skins is not the same as stealing stock.

Gert Titus broke into a Metlojane fresh produce shop owned by Jan Eimen, and stole eight animal skins. He was caught and charged under Section 3 (1) of the Stock Theft Act. The section forbids the stealing of any stock or produce or receiving any stock or produce knowing or having reason to believe it to be stolen stock or produce. The minimum sentence for a first offender is five years and that is what Titus got.