10 Aug 2020

Communities that fall under District No.5 policing area have been urged to form anti-stock theft committees and revive crime prevention ones to augment government’s efforts to fight stock theft.

The area’s officer commanding, Senior Superintendent Peter Gochela said in an interview that though the area had a fully-fledged stock theft unit, resources were inadequate.

The vastness of the area, he said, made it difficult for officers to attend to all reported incidents on time.

Senior Superintendent Gochela acknowledged that stock theft was rampant in the area and that many incidents were registered during an extreme social distancing period. He said back-ups were available in Chanoga, Nokaneng and Sehithwa where they had launched Kgomokhumo operation but stated that Nokaneng camp was temporarily closed.

He appreciated that campaigns in Sehithwa and Chanoga were bearing fruit and members of the public continued to play an active role in assisting police with information.

Kgomokhumo campaign, he said, aimed at identifying hot spots as well as identify criminal syndicates.

Snr Supt Gochela said five officers were stationed in Chanoga camp with no plans to beef them up though their area of operation was huge.

He said culprits were known to members of the community and it was disheartening that some parents never question their children when they brought home animals or meat whose source could not be traced. 

He appealed to the community to work with the police in curbing stock theft.

Farmers were adviced to brand their animals, maintain accurate records that included livestock numbers, registration details and livestock movement data.

They were also encouraged to be regulars at their cattle posts to accustom themselves with their animals. Residents of Kookale settlement had during a recent kgotla meeting suggested the upgrading of the stock theft unit, to enable it to adequately fight escalating incidents of stock theft.

They said inadequate resources and personnel as well as lack of own budget hindered its ability to serve the community as expected.

Although, they recognised that the police had been able to break away syndicates terrorising communities, they wanted local abattoirs and butcheries inspected.

Village Development Committee vice chairperson, Mr Julius Ndozi encouraged communities to work hand in hand with the police. ends