Dannhauser area a ‘stock theft hot spot’
"The statistics indicate a worrying upward trend of stock theft in some parts of the province," said Mack Makhathini.
The KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has reacted with shock and concern to the increase in stock theft cases in the province, following the release of crime statistics by the Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele.
“The statistics indicate a worrying upward trend of stock theft in some parts of the province, which has affected both communal and commercial farmers,” said Mack Makhathini, spokesperson for the Department.
According to the Minister’s report, high numbers of reported stock theft cases were registered in Bergville, Dannhauser, Impendle, Utrecht, Taylor’s Halt and other parts of KZN.
Mr Makhathini said while the Department had in recent years intensified efforts to curb this ‘rapid increase in stock theft’, by rolling out comprehensive animal branding programmes, it was clear more still needed to be done to stamp out this type of crime in the province.
“Currently, the Department, under its Veterinary Services component, is hard at work in various districts, assisting communal farmers to brand their livestock and also to get authentic permits as both contingency steps meant to easily assist in identifying stolen stock and to act as a deterrence for potential theft.”
Mr Makhathini added the seemingly inexorable rise in stock theft required all stakeholders to work together, to ensure all efforts to alleviate the so-called menace were coordinated on a national, provincial, local and communal level. He believes this requires farmers, livestock associations, farmers groups, Government, security, policing and more to form a united front.
Farmers are urged to contact their local Department offices for more information on livestock branding, and to report cases of stock theft to their nearest police station as soon as the crime occurs.
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