29 May 2023

Law enforcement officers are on high alert to prevent cases of stock theft at Ramatlabama bull ranch, Ramatlabama police acting station commander, Assistant Superintendent One Botlhoko has  said.

Supt Botlhoko was briefing Good Hope district authorities on Friday during a tour of the Ramatlabama farm to appreciate 162 pedigree cattle bought from USA by Botswana government to improve the local herd genetics and to also aid Botswana to become a better livestock producer.

Ms Botlhoko said they were aware of rampant stock theft and cattle rustling in their jurisdiction hence they have resolved to increase their visibility in and around the farm.

This came after some councillors wanted to know if the highly priced cattle were safe from thieves, particularly because the ranch was just adjacent to the border line with South Africa.

She told councillors who were accompanied by deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture- livestock farming, Ms Mmadima Nyathi that they had since introduced their personnel who would be based at the ranch.

She pointed out that the employees be working with the security guards that had been working at the ranch.

In an interview on the sidelines of the tour, the deputy permanent secretary said she was very happy that the district leadership had welcomed the cattle at the ranch and had come up with good ideas of how to curb theft.

She pointed that the district was a high risk area of stock theft, saying it was for that reason that the safety of the newly acquired cattle was critical.

Ms Nyathi said councillors had  suggested amongst other ideas for the ministry to introduce a register of all visitors and install enough lights in and around the ranch.

Further, they urged the ranch management to put in place measures to guard against diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease that could be brought by visitors. ENDS