Stock thieves in the Free State are reportedly crippling cattle by cutting their tendons before slaughtering the animals and illegally selling their meat, leaving farmers facing significant losses.  

In a recent incident, the Virginia SPCA had to euthanise a bull that was found with its tendons cut at the Welkom Cemetery.   

In a Facebook post, the organisation explained that the tendons are cut to prevent cattle from keeping up with the herd when moving through open areas. The injured animals eventually become unable to walk, leaving them helpless.  

“The perpetrators then slaughter the helpless animal,” the post said.  

Cattle thieves in South Africa have also been known to steal cattle and herd them to an isolated area where they are hamstrung to prevent them from straying until the thieves return with transport.   

Concerns over illegal meat sales  

The SPCA says that it was concerned the meat may subsequently be sold in surrounding communities.   

“Meat slaughtered outside the regulated abattoir and meat-inspection system raises serious food-safety concerns.”  

No excuse for cruelty  

The organisation says that poverty does not excuse cruelty.   

“You can be poor and still have compassion. And simply because someone can do something does not mean they should. What is allegedly happening to cattle in and around the Welkom Cemetery area is horrifying.”  

 The SPCA says it is thankful the incident was brought to its attention. “He was alone. He was suffering. And he did not deserve what had been done to him.” 

Conflicting accounts of stock theft 

Free State police say that no tendon-cutting incidents have been reported in the province in the past three years.

Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane says cattle owners have combatted livestock theft by installing GPS-enabled neckbands that alert owners when cattle move rapidly at night.  

However, the regional manager of the Transvaal Agricultural Union SA (TLU SA) in the Free State, Prof Andries Raath, says this method of stock theft is continuing and contributes to more than R1b a year in losses for farmers.  

He says hotspot areas include Welkom and Ventersburg.  

Raath says fully grown cattle can sell for about R25 000 and calves between R6 000 and R8 000.  

“When stock theft happens, farmers not only lose their cattle but the future of their businesses, as calves are the breeding stock. It brings about big losses to the cattle farming community and is not sustainable for farmers.”  

 Crime prevention  

Raath, who is also the chairperson of the SAPS Stock Theft Forum, says this crime pattern cannot continue.

He says help is needed from all stakeholders within the farming community, law enforcement and government.  

“All the relevant role-players need to come together and scrutinise, in a broad strategy, how to combat it, especially the NPA. Many times, when people are found guilty, they are given a suspended sentence. This is not the message we want to send out.  

“We need the policymakers to realise the severity of these crimes.”  

Stricter measures 

The Civilian Secretariat for the Police Service, under Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia, has published the draft Stock Theft Amendment Bill in a bid to tighten regulations governing the sale and movement of livestock in South Africa. 

Police have described the current law, the Stock Theft Act 57 of 1959, as ‘outdated’. 

The draft bill seeks to regulate the possession, ownership and movement of livestock in the country. 

It also aims to address shortcomings in the current legislation and improve the monitoring of the transportation and conveyance of stolen livestock and produce. 

Public comment 

The draft bill is open for public comment until November 2.  

Submissions can be emailed to  STA_Bill@csp.gov.za or posted to the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service, Private Bag X 922, Pretoria, 0001, for the attention of Mr S Mokubyane. 

Alternatively, comments can also be hand-delivered to the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service at Fedsure Building, second floor, 268 Lilian Ngoyi Street, Pretoria, 0002. 

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