01 Feb 2017

Stock theft is a serious criminal activity declared as such by the state, Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi, has said.

Responding to a question at Ntlo ya Dikgosi from Kgosi Isaac Titus, Mr Kgathi said to reflect the seriousness with which the state held violations of the laws and the Penal Code complainants, “in criminal proceedings complaints are represented by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.”

On June 23, 2016, the minister said he responded to a similar question asked by Ghanzi region’s Kgosi Justice Moseki.

Therefore, he reiterated that “generally all crime and criminal activity is against the state in so far as it is harmful to individuals and the community and also disturbs public order and tranquility.”

Kgosi Titus wanted to know if Mr Kgathi did not deem it necessary to provide complaints with lawyers in stock theft cases in the event defendants requested a transfer of the case to a magistrate. B0PA