Four men aged between 36 and 42 remain in custody after appearing in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court in connection with an alleged cattle theft valued at approximately R87,000.
The four suspects aged between 36 to 42 and identified as Vusi Mahlangu (42), Nkosinathi Vilakazi (37), Wiseman Mgidlana (42) and Thulani Nkosi (36).
During the court appearance, the court did not grant the bail of the four suspects for the further investigation and postponed the case to Thursday, November 5, 2026. Moreover the four suspects will remain in custody.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS) report, the incident took place around 02:40 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2026. Police shared that the complainant who reported about the incident was asleep at the farm and was awakened by one of his employees. He informed the complainant about the certain individuals who were invading the farm by cutting the fence.
After observing the situation both individuals immediately rushed towards the scene and found the suspects allegedly cutting the fence and trying to drive six cattle into nearby bushes. The four suspects were captured by the collaborative efforts of the farmers and nearby neighbours. The group managed to apprehend the four suspects across the road near the bushes.
Moreover, farmers also found a maroon Mazda Thunder station wagon with Mpumalanga registration number plates and police believed that the mentioned vehicle had been used by the suspects in the alleged cattle theft. During the investigation, police discovered a black plastic sheet which they believed had been used as a covering for the meat after the slaughtering of the livestock.
In further investigation around the vehicle, police discovered cattle hides bearing brand marks, along with two calves which were still alive. Additionally, Lt. General Apaphia Modise of the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga commended the farmers for their coordinated work with the police and not taking law into their own hands.
Notably, police shared the estimated value of the stolen livestock around R87 000.