Stock theft a ‘threat to E Cape economy’
Premier visits murder hotspots, sounds warning over stability
Stock theft and revenge killings are threatening the stability of the Eastern Cape economy.
Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane, together with MEC Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe and police provincial commissioner Lt-Gen Liziwe Ntshinga, shared this view while visiting several of the province’s stock theft hotspots.
Mabuyane called on residents, traditional leaders and livestock owners to work with police to fight crime.
“Those stealing livestock are among the community. It needs the community to assist the police to get rid of the rot.
“As long as the community continues to harbour criminals we will continue to have these things.
“This [crime] is threatening the province as many people, especially in rural areas depend on livestock. This is their bank, they rely on their animals to survive.”
Mabuyane highlighted Tsolo, Qumbu, Ngcobo and the Sterkspruit-Lesotho cross-border area as hotbeds for stock theft and related killings.
Within the Ngcobo area, Ngxogi and Mntuntloni villages are the most troublesome.
Mabuyane, Tikana-Gxothiwe and Ntshinga were visiting Ngxogi, a small village which has become a killing field. Twelve people have been shot dead in the village since January. It is believed they are all revenge attacks for stock theft.
Tikana-Gxothiwe said stock theft was getting worse in the province and Ntshinga said if villagers did not trust their local police, they should take their complaints to a higher level.
“They should feel free to report to the provincial management. There would be 10 police reservists in all traditional councils in the province as part of the rural policing concept,” Ntshinga said.
Mntuntloni village traditional leader Thandile Zanoxolo Mooi, his brother Vuyani Mooi, cousin Mzoxolo Zilwa and his traditional councillor and close relative Zamumzi Mbuthuma were shot dead on August 28 in what is believed to be a stocktheft related incident.
Mooi’s youngest brother, Akhona, was found hanged at home the next day.
On August 14, Nozukile Maramncwa, 62, and her son Masande Maramncwa, 31, were stabbed and shot dead and their hut torched while about 11 people were still inside.
Four girls, aged 4-17, were rescued from the fire and rushed to hospital with severe burns by family member Vulithuba Maramncwa, who was a witness to the incident.
Four days later Vulithuba was stabbed to death.
Three men — Bahle Ngxangane, 21, and brothers Siphesihe Rashu, 22, and Sithembiso Rashu, 27 — have since been arrested and charged with two counts of murder, nine of attempted murder, and arson.
“Communities must not take the law into their own hands; they must work with the police,” Mabuyane said.
“We urge courts not to grant bail easily to those accused of serious crimes like murder, livestock theft and violent attacks because some of these criminals come out on bail and terrorise communities.”
He said men in particular should stand up against crime.
“Everyone in this community agrees we must fight this crime and violence. All of us as men must stand up and fight violence against women and children. Men must not behave like animals; they must know that they have a responsibility to protect society, especially women and children.”
After the meeting at Ngxogi village, Mabuyane held a stakeholder meeting with traditional leaders, business leaders, the Moral Regeneration Movement and councillors in Ngcobo to further discuss ways to work together to fight crime.
Chris Hani Local Traditional Leaders chair Daluxolo Jezile and Chris Hani Moral Regeneration Movement chair Bishop Zamindawo Gqira also attended and said they were happy a summit on stock theft would be held in Ngcobo soon.