Stock theft, like other criminal activities, is evolving. No longer do stock thieves merely steal unsuspecting animals, as this requires extensive transport options. Instead, they now slaughter livestock on-site and then conveniently pack the meat into boots of cars or backs of bakkies, before fleeing.
One such incident took place on 9 December 2020 just outside Newcastle. This saw various SAPS divisions banning together with the Multi-District Stock Theft team, under the command of Brigadier Luvono of Nongoma SAPS and Ithemba Security, in a joint operation.
Sergeant Lephoto of the Multitask Team explains, “We received information from an informer, that a cow from the Normandien area had been slaughtered and the carcass was being transported. As I was not in the area at the moment, I then notified Morne Potgieter of Ithemba Security. He pursued the perpetrators, who were on their way to an abattoir, and managed to apprehend them.”
Sergeant Lephoto adds, when he and his team caught up with Ithemba Security, two of the men had been taken into custody. “The K9 Unit joined as to help locate the third suspect, but he unfortunately escaped.”
However, the two vehicles used to transport the meat were confiscated, as was the meat. While two of the suspects are now in custody, Sergeant Lephoto emphasises, stock theft is becoming a major cause for concern in the Northern KwaZulu-Natal area. So much so, the SAPS had to establish the Multi-District Stock Theft team.
“It has reached the point where offenders no longer just steal livestock. Rather, they slaughter the cow on the scene and then sell the meat to butcheries and Chesa Nyamas’. This, in fact, has become a very viable operation for offenders,” he states.
In light of the illegally butchered livestock becoming a growing demand throughout legal businesses, Sergeant Lephoto enthuses that farmers and livestock owners need to be more observant and keep a watchful eye over their animals. According to the SAPS crime statistics, 7 339 cases of stock theft were reported between July to September 2020.
While this crime saw a decline of 539 cases from 7 878 cases, in the same period, in 2019—one needs to recognise that the recent lockdown restrictions marked less public movement than before. Reflecting the severity of the situation, Sergeant Lephoto stresses that it is of the utmost importance to report stock theft. By reporting this crime, you can ensure the safety of the livestock owners, their employees and the animals themselves.
Do you know of such criminals? What are your thoughts on the situation?
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Author: Quinton Boucher
Edited: Calvin Swemmer
