By Anita Dangazele
- Jakobus was arrested in January after police found a lamb carcass in his backpack on a farm outside Willowmore.
- In a separate case, two farm workers were caught with six sheep carcasses and are facing charges under the Stock Theft Act.
A 34-year-old man from Willowmore in the Eastern Cape has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for stock theft.
Romano Jakobus was also declared a habitual criminal, meaning he could face even tougher punishment if he were ever caught committing a crime again.
Jakobus was arrested in January 2025 after farm owners caught him with a lamb carcass hidden in his backpack. The incident happened on a farm just outside Willowmore.
He remained behind bars after being denied bail and eventually took a plea deal. He was sentenced in the Willowmore Regional Court on 22 July.
Police used forensic evidence to link him to the theft, and the court ruled that the sentence would serve as a warning to others.
In a separate case, two men were arrested after being caught with six sheep carcasses inside a white Toyota Avanza.
Private security officers stopped the car along the R56 near Dordrecht at about 11pm on 16 July.
The two farm workers, aged 39 and 53, were arrested on the spot. They have been charged under the Stock Theft Act and were also denied bail.
Their bail hearing has been set for 25 July at the Dordrecht Magistrate’s Court.
Pictured above: Court gavel.
Image source: File
