03 Feb 2020

Magistrate Mpho Molema of Jwaneng has set February 12 as the date for sentencing in a matter in which Thatayaone Makube, 30, and his 20-year-old uncle, Thapelo Makube are accused of stealing two horses belonging to Mr Oikanyeng Koloti and Mr Adam Barolong, near Maokane in 2018.

This was after Mr Molema ruled that evidence against the two indicated that they intended to permanently deprive owners of their property, contrary to their avowals that they had merely ‘loaned themselves the horses’ without the owners’ consent, intending to bring them back soon.

They indicated that it was only unfortunate that the police arrested them before they could do just that.

Mr Molema, however, indicated that the three months they kept the horses before their arrest was too long and did not support the submissions that they intended to return them to their owners.

He also said the fact that they took the horses 200km away from their owners was another indication that they did not want the owners to locate them.

The magistrate also indicated that the accused persons failed to cross examine any of the four prosecution witnesses, but agreed with each of their narrations.

He said they also failed to challenge any of the submissions made by the prosecution, which satisfied the court that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Mr Molema therefore convicted the duo on two counts of stock-theft and acceded to the prosecution’s application for them to be finger-printed to check if they had any previous convictions before sentencing. ENDS