“As a young farmer, I am facing the same problems that my father faced when he started farming,” said a local farmer who expressed how stock theft has been affecting his family for years now.
The African Farmers’ Association of South Africa’s (Afasa) Provincial Youth, and the Youth in Agriculture Rural Development (YARD) secretary in the Mangaung District, Setjhaba Ramabenyane, said the lack of communication on the part of the police has left many farmers with questions regarding the importance of their concerns. He recently reported a case of stock theft and has not received feedback or a report regarding his case for weeks.
“Years back, my father lost our 15 cows, and we identified the suspects, but we did not get a report. From ten years ago till now, we have been dealing with the same problems,” he said at the Ministerial Stakeholder Engagement on Stock Theft, where the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, engaged with farmers to address their issues on 19 March.
Ramabenyane added that the introduction of technology will further equip the authorities to apprehend criminals and hopefully recover their losses.
To echo this sentiment, the chairman of the Agri-sector Unity Forum (ASUF), Pitso Sekhoto, expressed his disappointment as engagements about stock theft have been happening for years with little being done. He hoped that by 2025, the conversation would be about the progress that has been made instead of unpacking solutions and challenges.
“I was expecting to receive a report on what has been achieved and what the current challenges are. The police need to increase the Stock Theft Units around the country as the current units are serving close to 20 police stations. When do they get to the different towns?” he asked.
He suggested that the satellite units can also have a quicker and more effective response for farmers in need.
“We are not saying the police are not working, but it takes time before they can respond to your case. It is like a tick-box exercise—once you report, you just have your case number,” he added. Pitso called for the farming community to support each other while strategies are being discussed.
The National Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, confirmed that Bloemspruit Police Station will receive seven police vans in the coming weeks. Masemola emphasised that stock theft can only be curbed through collaboration.
Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu assured farmers that stock theft is an emergency that requires an effective response. “The situation is quite serious… The livestock industry loses more than a billion rand just because of stock theft,” he said.
“We are with you in your cry, and as a metro, we must equally echo your sentiments. What you are sharing as ideas and solutions will go a long way in ensuring that the metro contributes to curbing the surge of stock theft and endangered species,” said executive mayor Gregory Nthatisi.
Gypseenia Lion
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