In a bizarre and unsettling incident that has left the Figtree community in Matabeleland South both shocked and scratching their heads, 33-year-old Brighton Mkandla from Cliffton Farm has been arrested for allegedly engaging in intimate relations with three goats, two of which reportedly died, allegedly from sheer exhaustion.

The unusual saga began on August 15 when Elmon Ndlovu of Sydney Malunga Village was roused by suspicious bleating from his goat pen at 10 PM. Armed with a torch and a sense of disbelief, he discovered Mkandla half-naked and seemingly caught in a very compromising act with one of his female goats. Upon being spotted, Mkandla fled into the nearby bush like a startled and apparently guilty , wild animal.

The story took a darker turn when, on August 31, Cecilia Sibanda heard strange noises from her goat pen and found Mkandla in the act again. The next morning, Sibanda’s black female goat was found dead, bearing bruises and evidence of the alleged encounter. Villagers traced footprints from the scene straight to Mkandla’s residence.

Adding to the farmyard drama, Mayibongwe Ndlovu, alerted by the commotion, discovered one of his female goats dead with signs of strangulation and other disturbing evidence. Once again, footprints led back to Mkandla’s home, where he was apprehended.

Reportedly confessing to the shocking acts when confronted, Mkandla now faces three counts of bestiality in court. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody until his trial on September 12.

While the community grapples with the unsettling nature of these events, some can’t help but wonder if the goats simply couldn’t handle the “attention” and decided to take an early exit.

Ms. Sheila Nyathi is representing the State in this extraordinary case that has turned heads and raised eyebrows across Matabeleland South.

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