08 Mar 2017

Werda station commander, Superintendent Mompoloki Ramatsia has said young people aged between 20-35 are at the top of the list of stock theft offenders in his area of jurisdiction.

Speaking in an interview recently,  Superintendent Ramatsia said stock theft cases gave him sleepless nights and more worrisomely as the culprits were young people.
“We are recording high numbers of these cases.

I’m also certain that 99 percent of offenders are people from Werda and that young people who fall between the age range of 20-35 are involved in these crimes,” he said.
The station commander highlighted that cattle barons, were equally to blame because they leave their livestock unattended.  
“The farmers in my policing area, which include Makopong, Werda and Kokotsha have left management duties to the herd boys or farm workers.
They do not constantly check on their farm workers to see if things are running smoothly.”

 Superintendent Ramatsia urged farm owners to share management duties with their farm workers so as to abate stock theft.
Furthermore, Werda Police chief said shortage of manpower and competent resources were making the war  against stock theft a difficult task.  He noted that they do not have enough police officers to add to the Hereford border patrolling officers.  

He added that in the Kgalagadi sandy terrains, SUV vehicles were more efficient, adding that such cars were in short supply.  
Further, Superintendent Ramatsia also highlighted that community members were not attending crime prevention kgotla meetings in large numbers let alone cattle owners or farmers.

He said the fight against crime requires all stakeholders. ENDS