Pietermaritzburg - The Red Meat Producers Organisation (RPO) has lamented livestock theft in KwaZulu-Natal, singling it out as one of the main threats to farming in the province.
KZN Community Safety and Liaison MEC Willies Mchunu revealed on Thursday when he tabled his department’s budget at the KZN Legislature that millions of rands were lost annually due to livestock theft.
He told Members of Provincial Legislature (MPLs) that stock theft had increased by 3,5% in the 2014/2015 financial year, amounting to losses of R90 million when compared with the 2013/2014 financial year.
“We remain concerned that the emotional and tangible value attached to stock poses a potential to trigger conflict if stock theft is not contained in this province,” the MEC told MPLs.
RPO spokesman Hendrik Botha said that livestock theft posed a huge threat to the survival of emerging and commercial farmers. “The situation is out hand in the province at the moment because whoever these people are they work in a very organised fashion,” said Botha, who applauded the police for the work they were doing.
“You need to understand that if these thieves take over ten cattle from an emerging farmer that could be his entire livelihood, so this is a serious matter.”
According to the MEC the overall recovery rate by the police was 42.3%, a rate which he admitted was low when considering the impact on the economy. It was mainly cattle (14 308) that were stolen, although Mchunu added that “Honourable members, pigs are not being spared by criminals”, with some 377 having been stolen. Three hundred and eighty one horses, donkeys and mules were also stolen, with 159 being recovered.
Mchunu said government was encouraged by the positive impact being made by the collaboration of the police and farmers in the battle against stock-theft in the province.
According to Mchunu, Amangwe Estcourt, Bulwer, Utrecht, Ladysmith and Bergville were the most affected areas when it came to stock theft.
African News Agency
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