28 Apr 2019

Some dikgosi in villages under Serowe North constituency have praised the anti-stock theft operation code named, Operation Kgomo-Khumo.

Speaking at a series of kgotla meetings, the dikgosi told Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse that though marred by legal challenges associated with trying the suspects, the operation curbed stock theft whilst bringing to book stock rustlers.

The dikgosi Notwithstanding their pledged support for anti-stock theft efforts, however, expressed misgivings about trying the suspects at magistrate courts where they alleged cases took long to be disposed and thereby risking losing some exhibits in the process.

They argued that in the lengthy processes of trying suspects, who were usually ‘caught red handed’, the recovered cattle ended up dying and exhibits stolen. The dikgosi added that the same suspects who usually successfully file for bails would aid in the concealment and disappearance of exhibits.

The dikgosi felt that as traditional leaders, they were better versed with livestock cases than the magistrates and hence such cases should be restricted to their jurisdictions.

Kgosi Lefeletse Koonyatse of Paje said unlike the current practice where suspects elected to be tried at magistrate courts, the complainats should be afforded an opportunity to elect the courts of their choice.

However, Minister Autlwetse informed the Paje village leader that at magistrate courts the accused faced the state while stock owners became witnesses and therefore could not be accorded such.

He said such an arrangement was beneficial to stock owners since many could not afford lawyers.

Kgosi Koonyatse also siggested that special mobile courts could be used to dispose of cases expeditiously to avoid situations where cases dragged for long.

Like kgosi Koonyatse, Kgosi Rasebolai Kgamane in Serowe felt that stock theft impoverished Batswana and therefore Operation Kgomo-Khumo should last longer so that Batswana could accumulate more stock and recover from theft.

Kgosi Kgamane labelled stock theft as ‘been cancerous’ and therefore needed to be uprooted. He said thieves were treacherous so much that they tempered with evidence beyond recognition before it could be presented before the courts.

Scores of community members also threw their weights behind their chiefs’ views. They reiterated that suspects in stock theft, especially repeat offenders, must be denied bail at all costs.

The complaints followed Assistant Minister Autlwetse’s revelations that Parliament had amended anti-stock theft act with a view to stiffen penalties for offenders. He informed his electorate across the constituency that first offenders would be sentenced between five and 12 years in prison.

If they repeat the offence, offenders would be sentenced to between seven and 15 years. Third time offenders would be sentenced to between 10 and 20 years whilst a persistent ofender would receive a sentence ranging from 12 to 25 years.

Mr Autlwetse further told his constituents that any instrument of crime such as guns, knives, axes would be confiscated.

To demonstrate the wrath of the law, Mr Autlwetse warned his electorate that in an event that a car was used in transportation, such a vehicle would be confiscated too. In addition, the Serowe North legislator warned that even in the event that a donkey cart was used, the cart and indeed the donkeys would be impounded.

Accessories to crime too would be sent to jail in similar fashion as the prime offenders provided they were alive to the commission of crime at the time.

These could include those who assisted in slaughtering a stolen animal to those who knowingly bought and helped conceal products of crime, Mr Autlwetse warned much to voices of consonance from his electorate. ENDS