KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Willies Mchunu commends a successful breakthrough by police for arresting suspects believed to be masterminding stock theft syndicates in KwaZulu-Natal. After conducting serious operations, which were strategically targeting stock theft hot spots, police managed to arrest 28 suspects.
Police also recovered 115 stolen cattle to the value of more than R9 000 000, 27 goats and 22 sheep. All this livestock was stolen in various parts of KwaZulu-Natal. These operations were conducted in various areas in the province concentrating on those places that are believed to be hot spot areas. These operations include roadblocks, tracing of wanted stock theft suspects, stop and search duties.
This serious breakthrough comes in the wake on many incidents of stock theft in the province and in some instances; it has caused serious tensions to the communities like in Pomoroy, Msinga and Muden.
Two weeks ago, police arrested other suspects who are believed to be stealing stock in Dundee and selling them below market value thus misleading the police in the process.
Recently, MEC Mchunu met with the farmers associations in Estcourt to develop mechanisms to curb stock theft in the province.
In that engagement farmers committed in supporting community crime fighting structure to intensify the fight against the stock theft and crime in general. Commenting on the police breakthrough, Mchunu said this will inspire confidence to the people that government is serious about tackling crime in the province.
“This is an important breakthrough and it is an indication that as government we are serious about attending to stock theft matters. Livestock is the only source of living for rural and farming communities therefore anyone stealing from them is undermining government efforts of fighting poverty.
There has been an outcry in many parts of the province and we have assured people that working with the police we will find those running these syndicates. We commend the work by the police and we commend those members of the public who are bold enough to give information to the police. It is through this partnership we can win the war against stock theft and other crimes.
As the Department of Community Safety and Liaison, working with the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs, we will visit various communities encouraging farmers to brand their stock,” said Mchunu.
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