Stock theft is no longer a localised criminal issue; it is being perpetrated by a syndicate involving an organised network of people and runs from rural to urban areas.
It is an illegal web of business and criminal relationships involving livestock traders and others owning businesses where they sell meat.
Highly motivated criminals are taking advantage of the poor socioeconomic conditions among rural communities, and target young people in particular who are amenable to manipulation to steal stock. More often, rural communities in areas like Magaliesburg suffer from grinding poverty, unemployment and a low literacy level compared to urban-area communities.
Rural areas tend to offer cheap, fresh and organically grown livestock that are in high demand, and this tends to motivate criminals to steal livestock from those areas.
The Magaliesburg Police acting station commander, Captain Alex Mafhungo said to deal with the unprecedented stock-theft levels, everyone is forced to think beyond the confines of rural areas. The challenge, he said, is that they sometimes have a lack of definite evidence and of witnesses wiling to come forward.
“Let us promote neighbourhood watches, brand our livestock properly, count our stock more often, and hire reliable employees with proper documentation and traceable references to assist in arresting the thieves.”
Anyone who has relevant information can report it on the Crime Stop line 08600 10111, use the My SAPS app, or send an SMS to 32211,” he said in a media statement.
