The man, who was driving a Honda Fit, was stopped by police officers conducting routine patrols at around 4am. Upon being questioned, he reportedly failed to account for the presence of the goat inside his vehicle.
Mogoditshane Police Station commander, Superintendent Mbiganyi Letsholathebe, told The Monitor that later that morning, around 10am, a 39-year-old woman who is a local farmer came to the police station to report a missing goat.
“The farmer informed the police that upon her arrival at her kraal in Rakola Lands on the outskirts of Gabane, she discovered that one of her male goats was missing.
“She had also noticed tyre marks near the kraal, which made her suspect that an intruder had entered and stolen the animal,” he explained.
The woman was called to the police station to point out the goat that was recovered from the Honda Fit driver, which she successfully identified as hers.
The suspect is currently in police custody as investigations continue and is expected to appear soon before the Gabane Customary Court, where he will face a single count of stock theft.
Whilst he didn't have readily available statistics at hand, Letsholathebe noted that cases of stock theft are rising in the area.
"Usually, thieves break into kraals at night, steal goats or cattle, and slaughter them in the bush before carrying off the meat. Farmers often find abandoned livestock heads, offals, and skins in the surrounding bushes," he said.
Police have urged farmers to strengthen security around their kraals and to report any suspicious activities promptly.
