Rural farmers' perspectives on stock theft: police crime statistics

W Maluleke,L L Motsepa,R J Mokwena

doi:10.17159/2413-3221/2016/v44n2a393

Abstract

Rural farmers are not only facing challenges of severe drought blamed on the El Nino weather pattern, but the stock theft as well. The South African Police’s annual crime statistics report and surveys indicates that rural livestock farmers are mostly affected by stock theft in South Africa. The costs paid by these farmers to enhance security in the environs of their livestock roughly precede the financial planning meant for production. However, the research on the extent, economic impact, dark figures and problem areas of stock theft in rural areas remain limited. The National Crime Statistics about stock theft as administered and published by the South African Police Service remains the key focus of this paper. The responses of selected farmers indicate that there is no single solution tailor-made to fight against this phenomenon. The nature of this scourge extremely manifests itself in rural areas because it is not fully tackled by authorities. This paper draws from the detailed statistics reports of stock theft. Keywords: Crime Statistics, Livestock, Rural farmers, Police Service, Stock theft, Extension implication

Highlights

The literature indicates that animal livestock contributes significantly to the livelihoods of people living in the rural areas of developing countries (De Haan, Van Veen, Brandenburg, Gauthier, Gall, Mearns & Simeon, 2001)
The participants consisted of the following selected parties: SAPS Stock Theft Units (STUs), local SAPS members, prominent livestock farmers, local community members, Community Policing Forums (CPFs) managers, and leaders of local Faith-based organisations in rural areas
The selected parties need to understand the extent, economic impact dark figures and problem areas associated with stock theft and their role in preventing this scourge at all costs

Summary

Introduction

The literature indicates that animal livestock contributes significantly to the livelihoods of people living in the rural areas of developing countries (De Haan, Van Veen, Brandenburg, Gauthier, Gall, Mearns & Simeon, 2001). The literature asserts that among the difficulties faced by South African livestock farmers in general, stock theft remains one of the biggest challenges. To add to this argument, Geldenhuys (2006: 34) explains that stock theft is an escalating, unnerving and destructive reality, facing or affecting all sectors of the farming community. This includes the commercial farmer, the stud breeder, and emerging farmers, who own only a few herds of cattle (Geldenhuys, 2009:49). It is stated that stock theft occurs more frequently than other types of crime, and that it is a much more serious

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