Two cousins were sentenced to a combined 11 years of direct imprisonment by the Lehurutshe Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 19 November 2025, for the possession of suspected stolen stock.
Victor Kgori (50) and Motabogi Legae (49) were convicted after failing to provide a credible account for the cattle they were found possessing. Their sentencing follows their initial arrest in December 2023 in Swartkop village, Lehurutshe, outside Zeerust.
The arrest was the result of a successful operation by the Lehurutshe Stock Theft & Endangered Species (STES) Unit. Acting on a tip-off regarding suspected stolen cattle, unit members located and recovered ten Bonsmara cattle. The animals, which were brand marked in accordance with the Animal Identification Act of 2002, were valued at R120,000.
Preliminary investigations confirmed that the cattle had been stolen from the Palmietfontein farm, located just outside Zeerust.
Having remained in custody since their arrest in December 2023, the accused were sentenced as follows:
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Victor Kgori was sentenced to six years imprisonment.
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Motabogi Legae was sentenced to five years imprisonment.