Hopes are high that a new tech-savvy reporting system will help combat stock theft, which remains a huge problem for livestock farmers in Northern KZN.

Dr. Frikkie Maré, CEO of the National Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO), warned that the impact of stock theft is twofold: it results in major financial losses, and there is an emotional toll when livestock are injured or years of hard work are lost.

“Despite this, many incidences of stock theft go unreported, with some producers citing unsatisfactory service from local police stations as the reason for this underreporting.

“The National Stock Theft Prevention Forum is aware of the urgency to address this issue. A thorough investigation has led to the establishment of an effective national reporting system, managed by the National RPO, which will operate separately from the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The new reporting system aims to collect information on stock theft and related incidents, displaying it on a map to help identify trends and syndicate operations.

This data will then be shared with the SAPS to promote coordinated, effective action. The system is powered by the Earth Ranger platform, a software solution developed by the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, which integrates historical remote sensing data with field reports. Although Earth Ranger is primarily used for conservation efforts, it has been successfully adapted for rural security purposes, particularly in areas where poaching and stock theft are linked.

“Participating producers can be assured that their information will be kept strictly confidential by the Protection of Personal Information Act (2013),” said Dr. Maré.

Building on Success

Louis Wessels, chairperson of the National Stock Theft Prevention Forum, noted that only about 30% of stock theft cases are reported, but he remains optimistic about the new system’s potential.

Wessels called on all South African producers to report stock theft and other crimes on their farms via this new system. The reporting process is simple: producers can send relevant details through WhatsApp to 071 515 2011. Information required includes the producer’s name, contact details, location, the type of incident, and any available evidence such as photographs or case numbers from SAPS.

“It’s important to note that this system is intended to complement, not replace, the SAPS official stock theft reporting system. Producers are still strongly advised to report all incidents to SAPS to ensure that a case number is issued.”

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