The Northern Cape Police in partnership with departments of Agriculture and Home Affairs adopted a multi-faceted approach in the execution of the Operation Siza Nani (Operation Help One Another). The operation was launched on 1 August 2014, with the purpose of raising awareness regarding the serious crimes such as stock theft more particularly in the rural areas. During the operation South African Police Service (SAPS) engaged the farming community on matters pertaining to stock theft legislation and livestock that should be brand marked.
The role of the Department of Home Affairs in the Operation Siza Nani is to verify the details of the farm employees during farm visits. The details which will be verified are the identity documents and passports of the employees working and staying at the farms. This will be in an endeavour to check if the employees are not illegal immigrants who are employed by farmers.
Farmers are encouraged to continue to brand mark their lives stock as this will curb stock theft in the Northern Cape Province. The farmers who are ignoring the call to brand mark and tattoo their livestock will be issued with fines, if they are found not to comply with the prescripts of the legislation, which regulates the livestock brand marking and tattooing thereof.
The cooperation amongst the relevant role players shall be heightened and all the hot spots will be monitored. We will continue to embark on road blocks, cross border operations, to combat the illegal transportation of livestock and stock theft.
Since the operation was launched, the farmers in the De Aar Cluster and Hartswater clusters welcomed the Operation Siza Nani, with its content of education and awareness regarding livestock brand marking and tattooing of the livestock. The operation is on-going.
Operation Siza Nani will be held in Kuruman Cluster in the month of October 2014. The farmers are encouraged to brand mark and tattoo their livestock.
Media enquiries:
Lieutenant Olebogeng Tawana
Tel: 053 802 7314
Cell: 082 494 9981
Fax: 053 832 3492
