20 Sep 2023

 The increase in stock theft incidents in North West District has compelled the Botswana Police Service (BPS) to deploy more resources to arrest the situation. 

A team of 14 police officers from different districts has been stationed at Chanoga village to crack down on stock theft syndicates terrorising farmers in the district. District Traffic Officer, Superintendent Oathusa Tshotlego, said this when handing over the team to Chanoga community on Monday. 

Supt Oathusa said stock theft was rampant in their policing jurisdiction hence the deployment of more officers and vehicles towards prevention and arrest of perpetrators. 

The team started the operation at the end of August and he appealed to the “From January this year, the police have recorded 101 cases of stolen cattle and small stock,” he said and asked the community to work closely with them by providing any information about suspicious activities relating to livestock. Superintendent Tshotlego said the team, which started operations in August, had made notable progress.

“The team visited some farms and cattle posts and found that locals are involved in stock theft; most of our investigations led us to some local butcheries, which acquired meat without following the right procedure,” he said. 

Among those butcheries were those that sold meat that had not inspected.

He said the team was able to link the meat in those butcheries to some cattle heads and skins that were hidden in the bush, and ultimately to the culprits. 

Superintendent Tshotlego said prevention of small-stock and cattle rustling called for all to help, but there were some parents who made it all the more difficult by defending their children when the police investigated them. “This derails our efforts; Some parents and villagers, know the perpetrators but they never report them to the police,” he said. 

He did not spare those who bought meat in the streets without questioning its origin. 

Welcoming the police team Kgosi Oateng Setlhodi, expressed hope that the team would prevail. He thanked the government for responding positively to the communities’ plea to bring in more police to fight small-stock and cattle theft. 

He assured the team of of the community’s support. North West District Council (NWDC) deputy chairperson, Mr Nico Folae, also thanked the police for the unwavering commitment to fight small stock cattle theft. 

He said the majority of the residents depended on livestock rearing for survival but rustlers were impoverishing them by taking their animals. Even those who benefited from the Poverty Eradication Programme had fallen victim to the thieves, he said. 

“It seems there is a readily available market for stolen stock as criminals often slaughter cattle, sheep and goats in the bush and abandoned farms and kraals to sell to butcheries and meat markets,” he said. Mr Folae implored members of the community to work hand in hand with the police saying ultimately, their efforts would lead to reduction in animal rustling.

NWDC chairman, Mr Itumeleng Kelebetseng, appreciated government’s efforts in sending the team ito the district and called on the police to consider establishing a satellite police station in Chanoga to bring services closer to the people. He also called on the community to support the police. ENDS