A sanctuary for rescued farm animals in Franschhoek is offering a reward of R1.2 million, after one of its sheep named Baanksy has gone missing. Baanksy – who is named after a British street artist and political activist – is the world’s only painting sheep and was last seen on 1 February 2025.
“That Sunday morning, we had a commission booked from a visiting British family who wanted to invest in our art work, and they arrived at sanctuary on Sunday morning and we tried to find Baanksy to come to his art studio and we couldn’t find him. We thought he was hiding somewhere, and since then we’ve launched a full investigation with the police. We’re desperately trying to see trying to find out what has happened to him. Whether it is a case of a stolen sheep, if there was internal malicious intent involved we don’t know. We don’t find any signs of breaking in,” said a distraught Joanne Lefson, founder and director of Farm Sanctuary SA.
Franschhoek Police detectives are probing a case of stock theft after the world’s only painting sheep has gone missing. Farm Sanctuary SA, which is home to “Banksy” is offering a reward of R1.2 million. #smile904fmnews 📷📹: supplied pic.twitter.com/T68I15QACT
— Smile90.4 FM (@Smile904FM) February 13, 2025
She said the reward is of a high value because losing Baanksy is the same as losing a family member. Banksy brings in lots of revenue for the sanctuary, as one of his art works retails for R35 000.
“The life of Baanksy is worth that amount. We want to just get people behind trying to find out what happened to Baanksy or to find Banksy and, if you look at the longevity of Baanksy and where his career would potentially go, we would more than make that up eventually. So, it’s really just to get the community behind us. If it’s a normal person, you know, who had a missing child, I’m sure that they would also do whatever they could to try and find their child. And banks is part of our extended family here,” said Lefson.
‘PIGCASSO’S STUDENT’
The extraordinarily talented animal skyrocketed to stardom in December.
“He obviously had learned this technique and what to do through watching Pigcasso. So, it’s an incredible story. He’s the only sheep in the world that can paint,” added Lefson.
POLICE INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY
Franschhoek Police detectives are investigating the matter.
“Franschhoek Police registered a stock theft case for investigation, following the disappearance of a sheep between the 1st and the 2nd of February. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation and no arrest has been made yet,” confirmed Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg.
Anyone who may have information can contact the facility via email @ director@farmsanctuarysa.org (leads will remain anonymous)
READ MORE: Unique Museum of Dogs opens in Cape Town
