198 cases of stock theft reported during Gauteng lockdown but only 2 convictions

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is concerned that that there have only been two convictions out of the 198 cases of stock theft that have been reported, while there have only been 22 arrests.

Although this indicates an 11 percent decrease in stock theft compared to the same period last year, anecdotal information from the sector paints a different picture.

This information was revealed to me by the MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko in a written reply to my questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.

The value of the stock stolen amounts to R10.2 million.

According to the department the following stock was stolen:

  • 62 Sheep
  • 63 Cattle
  • 26 Goats
  • 21 Poultry
  • 19 Pigs
  • 1 Horse
  • 1 Zebra
  • 1 Donkey
  • 1 Duck
  •  Chicken

However, the DA is questioning the reliability of the information supplied as the statistics indicate that a criminal case was opened to report the theft of only one duck and one chicken.

In addition, there is a continuing trend of mistrust between agriculture sector and the South African Police Service (SAPS) which is leading to cases not being reported.

Furthermore, livestock breeders are not registering their brandmarks with the stock theft information centre and they are also not tattooing their livestock, which makes recovery and successful conviction that much harder.

Instead of the SAPS providing increased patrols in rural communities where stock theft is increasing because of the lockdown, they are instead deployed to enforce the lockdown regulations, thereby giving a false impression that they are doing their jobs.

This is leading to food security being threatened by a low-grade civil war that is going on in our rural communities. The DA will continue to put pressure on the MEC for Community Safety to work with the agriculture sector to ensure that stock theft is curbed, and that trust is built between law enforcement and the farming community.

Sign our petition here: https://petitions.da.org.za/p/ruralcommunities

 

Rise in stock theft an unseen Covid-19 fallout

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng notes with great concern the many reports from Gauteng farmers of an increase in stock theft in the province due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The theft of stock during lockdown may be another indication that Gauteng citizens are starving and resorting to criminality to feed their families as a result of governments’ sledgehammer approach to the pandemic.

The DA is engaging with residents living in rural areas to ascertain exactly how widespread this trend is in the province.

The DA will be tabling further questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to ascertain exactly how many incidents of stock theft have been reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS), how many arrests and recoveries were made and what measures are being put in place by government to ensure that they curb stock theft.

We are aware that farmers do not always report incidences of stock theft due to past experiences of ineptitude and apathy from the SAPS. We call on rural CPFs, and citizens to engage with us on the following link to voice concerns. (click here)

Unless the economy is allowed by government to recover as fast as possible, incidences of stock theft and rural crime will spiral in the months to come.

DA Debates Gauteng Community Safety 2015/16 Annual Report

Speech by: Kate Lorimer MPL

“DA’s proposals on running the Community Safety department”

  • The DA would ensure that real-time crime statistics would be publicly available in every police station at all times.
  • There would be stronger enforcement of road traffic rules using techniques such as speed over distance, increased stop and search, more focus on moving violations and drunk driving.
  • We would professionalise the management of SAPS resourcing and logistics by creating a national register.
  • The detective service will be bolstered by employing at least another 8500 detectives.
  • International best practice shows that specialised policing units promote the retention of skills and the development of expertise which results in better conviction rates. At a minimum the DA will re-introduce fully capacitated FCS, narcotics, gang, rural safety, stock theft and anti-hi-jacking units.
  • The DA would use ongoing sting operations to root out bribery in the public sector together with ensuring that officials who are proven to be corrupt will never be able to work in the public sector again.

The full speech can be obtained here.

 

Speech by: Michele Clarke MPL

“Shifting the goal post will not achieve desired outcomes”

  • The only way we will be able to reduce crime is to address corruption, developing a highly skilled, well-resourced police force and re-introducing specialised units.
  • Structures such as youth desks, woman and men as safety promoters are non-existent and when they do exist it is merely a formality for the sake of compliance.
  • As long as the traffic policing is a non-essential service as determined in the Police Act we will never be able to reduce road fatalities.
  • The Department of Community Safety lacks real progressive management.

The full speech can be obtained here.

 

Media enquiries:

Kate Lorimer MPL

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Community Safety

083 642 2727

 

Michele Clarke MPL

DA Gauteng Spokesperson on Community Safety

060 558 8299

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