A 27-year-old herd boy, Bonkhe Mnisi, who tended to the King’s goats at Mbangweni Royal Residence, has been apprehended for stealing and selling one of the royal goats. Mnisi, from Ludzidzini Loludzala under Chief Mandanda, appeared in the Shiselweni Magistrates Court charged with stock theft.
Mfuneni Matsebula, who manages the King’s livestock at Mbangweni Royal Residence, testified that Mnisi was one of two herd boys responsible for the goats. According to Matsebula, the other herd boy had been searching for the missing goat and inquired about it from nearby homesteads. This led them to a homestead frequently visited by Mnisi.
Matsebula reported that Mnisi used a family elder’s cell phone to contact various individuals, claiming he was selling a goat urgently. After speaking with the other herd boy, Matsebula reported the theft to the police. Mnisi later led the police to a homestead in Mdabula, where it was discovered that the stolen goat had already been slaughtered for a traditional ceremony.
The goat’s skin was presented in court as evidence, and Matsebula confirmed it matched the missing goat’s description—a white goat with a black spot around its head. The trial has been postponed to September 14, 2024, for further proceedings, with Mnisi having no additional questions for the court.
