The iLembe district is set to get its own satellite stock theft unit.

A crime imbizo held at Ntapuka Community Hall in Ndwedwe last Friday heard that stock theft was the top crime in the area, followed by drug abuse and violence in schools.

Acting iLembe Police Commissioner, Major General Nosipho Madondo, said the new stock theft unit would be based at Newark.

Between January and September, at least 47 stock theft cases were reported in the Ntapuka area, prompting police to hold the imbizo there.

“The district has been relying on the Greytown-based unit. Major-General Anthony Gopal had requested that iLembe have its own unit, and I am pleased to confirm that provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has approved that request. However, the new unit will still report to the Greytown commander,” said Madondo.

Residents were urged to work with police and the Department of Agriculture to adopt modern livestock branding methods. Police said many rural farmers still use old practices like cutting ears or horns, which do not hold up in court.

“Just as vehicles have registration numbers, your livestock can also be branded and officially recorded in our system. This helps us trace stolen animals and identify their rightful owners,” said Captain Shozi from the Greytown livestock unit.

Community policing forum members also requested training on drug identification and recognising children who use drugs, to help them report drug activity and support affected pupils. A rise in robberies of elderly people, allegedly at the hands of a group of men driving around in an unmarked VW Polo was also raised.

Madondo encouraged residents to work closely with the police and take proactive steps to prevent crime.

“We must also look at our role in enabling crime. If we close those gaps, we will make it harder for criminals to operate,” she said.

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