According to the latest SAPS crime statistics, reported stock theft cases were down nationally by a marginal 0,7% to 14 057 cases. Stock theft has decreased by 32% since 2001, according to the latest figures, but the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga saw thefts increase between 7,1% and 10,4% respectively last year. “To be honest, in Mpumalanga one person is arrested every day,” says Senior Superintendent Oosie Oosthuizen, commander of the National Stock Theft Unit. “But for every one person arrested, another three are missed.” Swanepoel adds that goats stolen in Mpumalanga often find their way to KZN and Mozambique. Limpopo has made the biggest recovery with a 25.2% drop in reported cases. Captain Peet Swanepoel, National Stock Theft Unit coordinator, says this is due to the exceptional informer network in the province.
Stock theft incidents in North West also increased 1,6%. Stock theft was down in the Free State, Western Cape and Gauteng by 7,3%, 7,6% and 6,1% respectively. The Northern Cape also managed to put a lid on incidents, experiencing a drop of 10,7% in reported cases, while KwaZulu-Natal had a 0,6% increase in reported cases last year. Swanepoel admitted farmers have lost faith in police and often fail to report theft, negatively influencing statistics. He says incorrectly marked animals also hamper police investigations, adding that 99% of goats are not correctly marked. He added that a project has been launched to ensure that animals in communal areas conform to legislation. – David Steynberg
Issue date: 25 January 2008
