15 Aug 2019

Police in Sehithwa have complained about the increase in stock theft cases.

Assistant Superintendent Moutlwatsi Ikobeng stated during a seminar on stock theft that was attended by police officers that 13 cases of stock theft were recorded from January to July as compared to three cases in the same period last year.

Assistant Supt Ikobeng said of out of the 62 animals stolen this year, 39 were goats, 19 cattle and four horses.

He said police apprehended nine perpetrators for offences recorded this year and two in relation to last year.

Some livestock, he said, was returned to the owners.

He said culprits were mostly men aged between 19 to 50 years, and that 70 per cent of them were youth aged between 19 and 40 years.

Assist Supt Ikobeng complained about parents who defended their children when investigated by the police.

He appealed to farmers to brand their livestock as that helped during investigations.

Cattle, he said, must be branded as early as five months old, and that the information should be recorded with the Department of Veterinary Services in the animal traceability system.

Assistant Supt Ikobeng also said some farmers failed to build kraals resulting in animals going astray. He said the KgomoKhumo campaign, which was recently launched in Sehithwa, did not bear fruit because no cases were reported.

A farmer from Bodibeng, Mr Keitihetse Moitatodi said communities failed law enforcement officers because the care for animals did not improve even after numerous sensitisation efforts. He gave himself as an example of a farmer who did not have a kraal.

Mr Gaeinewe Sekao of Phathane cattle post appreciated the KgomoKhumo campaign which aimed to fight stock theft.

He said reliable herd boys were hard to find in the area and that in instances where livestock gave birth in the bush, the young ones were at risk of being stolen. ENDS