/ 27 November 2007

DA highlights problem of stock theft

More than 28 000 animals were stolen from farms around the country over the past 18 months, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Tuesday.

Less than 40% of the stock — including game, cattle, sheep and goats — was recovered, DA rural safety spokesperson Ryno King said in a statement.

”In a reply to a parliamentary question, the DA has learnt that 28 828 animals were reported stolen from farms from March 2006 until September 2007.”

South Africa’s farmers were now paying dearly for the closure of commando units, he said.

Worst hit was KwaZulu-Natal, with 7 256 animals stolen, closely followed by the Eastern Cape (7 099).

All provinces experienced stock theft, including Free State (4 700), North West (2 878), Mpumalanga (2 710), Limpopo (1 571), Northern Cape (1 315), Western Cape (780) and Gauteng (519).

”Of the above, 38% of the stolen cattle, sheep and goats were recovered.

”The 2006/07 South African Police Service crime statistics show that 219 833 stock-theft crimes have been recorded since April 2001.”

According to last month’s National Stock-Theft Forum figures, the value of the stock stolen last year was over R327-million.

King said only 10,62% of reported stock theft cases ”make it to a first court appearance”, down on last year’s figure of 12,04%.

He called on Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota to urgently reconsider the future of the commando units, and their possible role in supporting law and order in border and rural areas. — Sapa