Forum putting plans in place to curb rampant stock theft

THE NUMBER of stolen animals has increased in all provinces, with the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Free State recording the most incidents.

At the National Stock Theft Prevention Forum (NSTPF) meeting earlier this month, members discussed the challenges facing the criminal justice system and all role players when it came to curbing stock theft.

It emerged that Mpumalanga recorded an increase in sheep theft, and North West recorded a serious increase in the theft of goats.

The SAPS National Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit identified 30 stations across the country that needed serious attention and were regarded as national hotspot stations.

“The NSTPF resolved that each province, with the assistance of the farming communities and stock theft units of a particular area, establish a Stock Theft Information Centre (STIC) as a matter of urgency, to address the high prevalence of livestock theft in their respective areas,” the forum said.

The meeting resolved that all provinces report back at the next meeting, planned for May, on the successful establishment of the STICs and on local efforts taken to reduce livestock theft.

The forum has recommended that the minister of agriculture forestry and fisheries change the age at which cattle/calves must be marked, and that no animal be allowed to be sold if not marked – irrespective of age.

The forum called for the training of prosecutors in prosecuting livestock theft cases to receive the highest priority, the National Prosecuting Authority’s budget permitting.

With the festive season and planting season ahead, the forum has requested that all livestock owners register a unique brand mark in their name and to apply it to all livestock in their possession, in the manner described under the Animal Identification Act of 2002.

All livestock buyers, auctioneers, feedlots and abattoirs have been requested to confirm livestock ownership and refuse to take ownership of livestock that are not marked or where the necessary document of identification and stock removal certificate are not supplied.

The forum said all the documents of identification should be kept on record for a year.