Limpopo SAPS must be resourced to combat stock theft
During recent Portfolio Committee meetings, the DA called on both the Departments of Transport and Community Safety and Agriculture and Rural Development, to collaborate efforts to combat stock theft in the province.
During the Fourth Quarter (1 January to 31 March) for the 2022/23 financial year, there were 477 reported incidents of stock theft in Limpopo.
Most incidents involved the stealing of cattle (200 incidents) and goats (193 incidents).
The majority of live stock are stolen from communal or municipal grazing areas followed by theft from cattle kraals on farms or residential areas.
The Gilead police station reported the highest incidents of stock theft in the province and also features 19th on the top 30 stations nationally for reported stock theft.
The stock theft units have 77 officers with 34 vehicles including 2 quadbikes and a truck at their disposal to combat stock theft provincially; which is inadequate.
Of the 6761 cattle that were stolen during the fourth quarter, only 1041 were recovered and of the 9436 goats stolen, only 812 were recovered.
These figures indicate the significant financial losses incurred by farmers, including subsistence farmers who are dependent on their livestock for a living.
Stock theft is much higher than reported as the low arrest and conviction rates serve as deterrents for the reporting of such crimes.
Increased resources to stock theft units coupled with improved marking of animals by the department of agriculture under the Animal Identification Act, 6 of 2002, will assist in the prevention of stock theft.
We urge the department of agriculture to collaborate with SAPS in preventative strategies and solutions against stock theft to keep our rural economy from collapse.
