Eastern Cape farmer Wentzel Lombard is now getting more than he bargained for after being found guilty of pulling off a dodgy cow deal that left a fellow farmer, Albertus Steenkamp, high and dry.
This week – on Thursday, 9 January 2025 – Lombard’s 36-month sentence officially began. This marked the start of his community service sentence following a conviction in September 2024 for selling 191 cows to Steenkamp under the false pretense that they were heavily pregnant. Each cow was sold at R14 000 plus VAT.
In reality, only 105 of the cows were expecting, leaving Steenkamp with a financial loss of over R1 million. This, after he borrowed R3 million from Vleissentraal to seal the deal. In the end, the only thing that was truly “pregnant” was the fraud.
House arrest, hard labour, and humility
As expected, Lombard wasn’t going to get off lightly. In addition to paying a hefty R100 000 to Steenkamp within a year, Lombard was handed a seven-year prison sentence – suspended for five years – on the condition that he doesn’t get caught doing anything similarly dishonest.
Lombard’s sentence comes with a full plate of obligations. As part of his correctional supervision, he has been placed under house arrest and is required to perform 576 hours of community service as a general labourer at a local community centre in Nxuba.
Additionally, he must attend church services, participate in correctional programmes, and secure gainful employment, ensuring his days are anything but idle.
NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said, “The court has further declared Lombard unfit to possess a firearm. Arguing for an appropriate sentence, state prosecutor Louise Brink emphasised the severity of Lombard’s actions and the significant financial loss suffered by the complainant. Brink submitted that Lombard’s actions were premeditated.”
But that’s not all. Lombard must complete 16 hours of community service in the first month of his 36-month sentence.
Barry Madolo, the Eastern Cape director of public prosecutions, said the sentence reflects the National Prosecuting Authority’s commitment to holding perpetrators of economic crimes accountable.
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