The PhD study, titled ‘The impact of livestock theft and animal mutilation on farmers: an explorative study of their victimisation’, is being conducted by Cecili Doorewaard, a senior lecturer in the College of Law at the University of South Africa’s Department of Criminology and Security Science.
Organisations such as the National Livestock Theft Prevention Forum and AgriSA have also been asked to participate.
“The interviews include questions such as how many times your livestock have been stolen, how many times you have experienced incidents of livestock mutilation, and what impact the victimisation had on your life and well-being,” Doorewaard told Farmer’s Weekly.
“My study will give victims of stock theft an opportunity to share their experiences and explain any decision not to report livestock theft incidents to the police,” she explained.
“My findings may help inform the criminal justice system and other stakeholders about the needs of livestock theft victims and contribute to addressing misconceptions about this type of crime.”
She added that her findings will be used to conceptualise an interdisciplinary framework for identifying effective practices and areas for improving livestock theft victims’ experiences as well as victim empowerment services.
Interviews with farmers will be confidential, and all data will be protected.
“Regardless of the severity of your past victimisation experiences, should any of the topics feel unsettling or bring up difficult emotions, you can inform the researcher that you would like to take a break or stop the interview entirely,” Doorewaard said.
“If you should like to continue with the interview but feel uncomfortable answering some questions, you can skip to the next question. Only the researcher will know that you participated in the interview unless you disclose it to someone else.”
Farmers who wish to participate in the study may email Cecili Doorewaard at [email protected]. Alternatively, they can phone or WhatsApp 071 302 4630.
