A 19-year-old man from Tsholotsho village outside Beit Bridge was charged with bestiality on Monday, after he was caught having sex with his employer’s donkey.

Joseph Mpofu stunned the court when he told the magistrate that he had committed the offence because he felt it was the best way to relieve himself of his sexual urges since he had no girlfriend.

Mpofu, who is employed as a herdsman, was caught by his employer in the middle of the night while having sex with a donkey. He pleaded guilty to a charge of bestiality when he appeared before local magistrate Mr Abednico Ndebele. The case was postponed to 16 July.

The court heard that on 5 July, the complainant heard some noises and he decided to go and see what was happening in his kraal. Upon arrival, he got the shock of his life as he found Mpofu performing a sexual act on the animal. The court heard that Mpofu had tied the donkey by the neck to a tree and it was lying on the ground, while he had sex with the animal.

Mpofu admitted the crime but told the magistrate the tale, which left the entire court laughing when he said: “Your Worship, I was under pressure and therefore needed help. I then decided to go to the kraal, because I do not have a girlfriend. Raping a girl was going to be a big crime, hence I opted for a donkey...”