Ndlovu pleaded guilty to both counts and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.

However, the magistrate suspended six months of the sentence for three years on condition he is not convicted of any offence of which bestiality is an element committed within that period.

If he is convicted again for a similar offence within three years, Ndlovu will be sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine.

The magistrate suspended the remaining 12 months on condition that Ndlovu completes 420 hours of community service at Godlwayo Primary School.

The court said what Ndlovu did would make “any right-thinking member of society sick to their stomach” when he raped Brighton Nkomo’s goat to death.

Allegations were that on 28 October 2022 and at around 10 pm Ndlovu, who was employed at Phat-Ore Mine, went to Nkomo’s homestead and upon arrival, he entered his goat pen.

While inside the goat pen, he had sex with one of his female goats. It is reported that the goat died during the act.

The court heard that the following morning Nkomo went to the goat pen and found one of his female goats lying unconscious.

Upon checking the goat, he found it dead with some semen on its rear.

Nkomo reportedly tracked a trail of footprints from the goat pen and they led him to Ndlovu’s home.

On 31 October 2022 and at around 3 AM, Ndlovu went to Luckson Mkandla’s homestead and upon arrival he got into his goat pen.

While inside the pen, he took off all his clothes and raped the goat.

Mkandla was awakened by the goat’s continuous bleating and tiptoed to the pen to investigate.

Upon arrival, he flashed his torch and was shocked to see Ndlovu having sex with one of his female goats.

Ndlovu fled naked leaving behind his clothes in the goat pen but he had already been recognised.

Mkandla reported the matter to the police leading to Ndlovu’s arrest.

The clothes which he left in Mkandla’s goat pen were used in court as an exhibit.

Both the owners of the goats, Nkomo and Mkandla are from Ntabende Village in Esigodini. | B-Metro