A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE - Athlone mense rally to raise funds after skape meant to feed the homeless were stolen

TWO skape meant to feed homeless mense over the Christmas period were stolen in a heartless theft in Bridgetown, Athlone, last Friday.  

Niezaam Williams, the owner of the sheep and Paradise Pizza in Bridgetown, told the Daily Voice that he had been fattening the sheep for slaughter and cooking meals for the needy as a way of giving back to the community.

Williams explained: “We make food throughout the year and on Christmas we give gifts and food packs to the needy. 

“We had these two sheep and fed them all year. What happened was we were supposed to slaughter them on Friday after mosque, put them in the fridge for a few days and on Christmas morning we would have made the food and give it to the needy.

“We were planning to give the food to needy people in Bonteheuwel, Bridgetown and Heideveld who we know wouldn’t have had food on the table for Christmas.”

However, Williams’ Christmas plans were cruelly derailed after a group of skelms allegedly stole the sheep in the hours before they were set to be geslag.

He said: “Then what happened, these guys, a father and two sons, a cousin and another lady stole the sheep. The one sheep and lamb were chased from 2.30pm in the morning till 3pm.

“They chased the mother, but the mother was too fast and made them tired. They then cornered the lamb.

“We saw on the footage how they chased and tied them up, threw them over the fence and pushed them over the fence and pulled them on the tar right down Heide Street and put them in a bin in Akasia Avenue.”

It is alleged that they were taken to Langa. 

However, the community of Bridgetown came together to save the day.

Williams said that he received more than R8 000 of donations from Sunday and that more mense were willing to donate to assist with food to give to the needy.

He said: “It’s not going to be two pots anymore, but three pots. At least something good came out of it. Allah is great and we are glad that they will still have their lunch.”

Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that three skelms were arrested.

Twigg reported: “Athlone police registered a stock theft case for investigation on Friday, 19 December 2025, following an incident in Bridgetown, Athlone, where two sheep were stolen. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation. 

“We can confirm that three suspects aged 22, 25 and 30 were arrested and will appear in the Athlone Magistrates’ court once they have been charged.”