Ex-ANC MP sentenced to prison for stealing cows in North West

A former ANC Member of Parliament and her co-accused were sentenced to prison for stock theft in the Schweizer-Reneke Regional Court in North West on Monday, 8 May. The duo will spend three years in jail for stealing cow calves in 2018.

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Former MP and co-accused sentenced

Veronica Mapule Mafolo, 48, and Thabo Freddy Phutiyagae, 36, were arrested after a stock theft incident at a farm in Schweizer-Reneke on 12 January 2018.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said a farmer noticed fresh car tracks on his farm early in the morning, and after counting his stock, he noted that two Bonsmara calves were missing.

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The matter was reported to the police, and the farmer was later called to Vryburg Auction Kraals, where he pointed out his missing calves.

“Evidence led in court revealed that Mafolo pleaded with the farmer not to lay charges against her as it would dent her reputation as a member of Parliament,” NPA spokesperson Henry Mamothame.

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State asks for aggravated sentence due to prevalence of crime

State Prosecutor Advocate Mpho Sehapo pushed for an aggravated sentence and asked for direct imprisonment because the crime of stock theft is so prevalent in the province.

The Magistrate, Paul Moeng, agreed and said the former MP and her co-accused’s actions were influenced by greed.

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Moeng added that stock theft hurt farm businesses and further destroyed employment for farm workers.

“Stock theft is rife in our province, and the criminal justice system will deal harshly with perpetrators of such offences without fear, favour or prejudice”, said the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari.

Mafolo was an ANC MP from 21 May 2014 until 7 May 2019. She also served on various parliamentary committees.

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