12 Oct 2022

Farmers should remain forever vigilant as cross-border livestock thieves could be lying low only to strike again when everyone is at slumber.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Bobonong, Mr Taolo Lucas said this after reports of cross-border livestock rustling incidents.

Speaking during a kgotla meeting in Mabolwe, Mr Lucas advised farmers in the Mabolwe, Semolale and Gobojango (MASEGO) region against being deceived by the current situation of subsiding incidents, saying the thieves could be plotting enhanced plans to defeat the current interventions.

“I talked to the police who reported to me that it’s been six months without incidents of cross-border livestock rustling in this region. I’m here saying that no matter how impressive the situation could be improving, don’t let your guard down,” said the legislator.

The MP also dissuaded his constituents against dissolving mephato (regiments) which were combating the then ravaging cross-border livestock rustling scourge.

He said while still reeling from the devastating impact of the scourge, which condemned some of them to poverty, farmers should be reminded that time was not yet ripe to call off the interventions.

Although in agreement that there was a glimmer of hope born from the insignificant to zero cases, MP Lucas also reminded his electorate that an over 40-year-old problem could not be wiped off in a matter of ‘seconds’.

“We used to have renowned cattle baron braggarts whose saunters could be seen from a distance as they puffed their chests and showing off luxuries from their cattle, but these days we see them walking with their heads down,” said Mr Lucas, emphasising the devastating blows birthed by the scourge in question.

On other related matter, the MP said only the white paper emanating from the report on Mr Gabriel Seeletso’s Commission of Inquiry on Cross-border Livestock results could guide on how to dispense animals to those who lost theirs through the same.

He said it was currently not clear who should be included in the list of the intended restocking and the scope of time.

The Bobonong legislator said it had come to his attention that the list of those who were to receive livestock as announced in Semolale in July, contained far less names than the actual claimants.

Although he conceded that some of his electorate might not have reported some theft incidents because ‘it was inconsequential to do so’ at the time, he believed that some farmers who had actually reported were omitted in the list.

To this, the MP said his office was inundated by inquiries regarding the restocking exercise.

“It has become clear that in some incidents the police captured the names of those who reported the alleged theft incidents.

It could have been relatives or herders, but not necessarily the cattle owners.

This capturing of information could breed some feuds and contests,” said Mr Lucas.

Further, the MP said the distribution of livestock with the current list could be deemed as favouritism.

His claims were supported by patron of mephato, Kgosi Mooketsi Sebola, who said the registration of the affected farmers opened a door enough for government to even restock the undeserving.

Kgosi Sebola said only 35 names of farmers in Mabolwe appeared on the list.

Concerning the scope, the community leader alleged that the names of the farmers on the list were from 2011 up to now.

He wanted clarity on the matter since farmers long lost their livestock through the scourge spanning from over 40 years ago.

“The criteria used to prove that people lost their livestock was porous and the claimants can’t prove that they indeed had livestock at the time,” said kgosi Sebola.

Regarding the same, councillor for MASEGO, Mr Doctor Makwati said the leadership had sought a meeting with the Central District commissioner, Ms Angelinah Leano to try find ameliorations to the beneficiaries list.

The meeting, he said, resolved that the district commissioner write to the commission to seek clarifications pertaining to the scope of time and the queries regarding the said list.

Unfortunately, Mr Makwati said, the commission was dissolved after handing over the report to the President.

All was not lost though as the letter from the district commissioner was then routed to the Office of the President, according to Councillor Makwati. ENDs