Tensions ran high in Mhlasini, KwaZulu-Natal, after a 31-year-old man from the Eastern Cape was caught red-handed stealing a goat — and swiftly met with a violent response from the local community.
The drama unfolded just after midnight on Sunday, when the suspect was spotted fleeing a property with a male goat slung over his shoulders. The homeowner, along with several residents, gave chase and managed to apprehend him after a short pursuit.
Upon capture, the man was physically assaulted and interrogated about his alleged ties to a string of livestock thefts that have plagued the area in recent months. Residents claim the suspect may be linked to the disappearance of seven other goats, fueling suspicions of organized theft.
Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) responded to the scene, where officers discovered the man had relocated to KwaZulu-Natal in 2015 in search of work. His past movements and connections in the area are now under scrutiny.
While the community’s frustration is understandable, authorities are urging residents not to take the law into their own hands. The case remains under active investigation, and law enforcement is working to determine whether the suspect is part of a larger livestock theft syndicate.
The incident highlights the growing tension in rural communities dealing with repeated livestock losses, as well as the increasing risk of mob justice in areas where trust in formal policing is low.
