I got a note and a bottle of 2004 Pederberg Shiraz Reserve asking if I could help Perdeberg Winery find their missing zebra. First of all, why would someone steal a freaking zebra? What would you do with it and where would one keep it?

After checking out http://www.themissingzebra.co.za, I can see why. Those 5 suspects look real dodgy. Out of the 5, Dirk de Wet, the ex police officer is probably the most clean – capturing a zebra out of boredom sounds a little far fetched. However, Jan de Jager Junior and Boontjies seem the more likely of the 5 to have kidnapped a zebra.

If I was Jan de Jager Junior and had a bit of a tiff with Pederberg Winemaker Riaan Moller, I too would get back at him by stealing one of the farms prize possessions – the zebra. But then again, being a bit of a dronkie and a stupid chicken farmer, I wouldn’t be smart enough to steal, nevermind hide a zebra!

Then there is Boontjies – one of those dodgy fruit and veg hawkers that sell “stolen” fruit at the Klapmuts turnoff. His horse pegged a couple of months back and obviously needs transport to get his fruit and veg to market. These hawkers are slimy buggers and could easily make a plan to kidnap and hide a zebra – I wouldn’t be surprised if he had painted the white stripes black to make it look like a horse.

If you help out by answering some of the weekly clues, you could win some wine, so go and give it a shot!