Perspectives on Stock Theft Prevention in the Selected Provinces of South Africa: Failures and Successes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4409.2021.10.121Keywords:
Agricultural economy, Failures, LIM Province, KZN Province. Perspectives, Stock theft prevention, Successes, South Africa.Abstract
Residents of Limpopo (LIM) and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province are witnessing higher rates of stock theft, with the inhabitants of the selected communities living in fear for the prevention of this scourge. This study explores the extent of this crime in the selected areas of LIM and KZN, considering contributory factors, determining the relationship between the South African Police Service Stock Theft Units (SAPS STUs) and other relevant stakeholders, as well as looking at existing strategies (And their failures and successes) in responding to this crime effectively. A qualitative research approach coupled with Non-probability: Purposive sampling was used in this study. The targeted population consisted of 113 participants. For data collections, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and Observation Schedules were adopted. lack of appropriate preventative measures has led to rise of stock theft, it was, therefore, discovered that both the affected livestock farmers and members of the community lost confidence toward the police, Besides, the perspectives on stock theft prevention in LIM and KZN reflect a greater challenge, with inadequate solutions present, since the current preventative measures are ineffective. Thus, understanding stock theft phenomenon is critical to its prevention as the sector of livestock in South Africa is the contributory key to the value of the agricultural economy.
References
Abbas, T., Muhammad, Y., Raza, S., Nazir, A and Höreth-Böntgen, DW. 2014. Some facts and issues related to livestock theft in Punjab province of Pakistan: Findings of series of cases. Berliner und Münchener Tierärztliche Wochenschrift, 127:10-13.
Bunei, EK., McElwee, G and Smith, R. 2016. From bush to butchery: Cattle rustling as an entrepreneurial process in Kenya. Society and Business Review, 11(1):46-61. https://doi.org/10.1108/SBR-10-2015-0057
Bunei, E. K., Rono, JK and Chessa, SR. 2013. Factors influencing farm crime in Kenya: Opinions and experiences of farmers. International Journal of Rural Criminology, 2(1):75-100. https://doi.org/10.18061/1811/58846
Burger, F.J. 2007. Strategic perspectives on crime and policing in South Africa. Van Schaik Publishers: Hatfield.
Chelin, R. 2019. Organised crime moves in on South Africa’s livestock industry. November 19, Institute of Security Studies [Online]. Available at: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/ article/2019-11-19-organised-crime-moves-in-on-south-africas-livestock-industry ...
Clack, W. 2013. The extent of stock theft in South Africa. Acta Criminologica: Southern African Journal of Criminology, 26(2):77-91.
Clack, W. J. 2014. The role of social media in livestock theft: A case study. Acta Criminologica: Southern African Journal of Criminology: Special Edition: Research and Application in Criminology and Criminal Justice, 1:101-177.
Clack, W and Minnaar, A. 2018. Rural crime in South Africa: An exploratory review of ‘farm attacks’, and stock theft as the primary crimes in rural areas. Acta Criminologica: Southern Africa Journal of Criminology, 31(1):103-135.
Coleman, A. 2011. Stock theft has been declared a priority crime in the National Rural Safety Strategy. Farmers Weekly, 29 July:1. Available at: https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/ opinion/by-invitation/saps-rural-safety-strategy-review-underway/.
Constitution of Mahlasegi Cluster Livestock Forum. 2012. Giyani Cluster: Limpopo Province.
Dall, N. 2020. The cattle massacre that haunts South Africa. Available at: https://www.ozy.com/true-and-stories/the-cattle-massacre-that-haunts-south-africa/88717/.
Dean, S. 2020. Stock theft - Over R1,2 billion in livestock theft reported in 2018/2019. Farmer’s Weekly, 17 January, 24.
Donnermeyer, JF and DeKeseredy, WS. 2014. Rural criminology: New directions in critical criminology. Routledge: Oxon. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203094518
Dzimba, J and Matooane, M. 2005. Stock theft and human security: A case study of Lesotho. Pretoria: Institute for Security Studies.
Eloff, CC. 1988. Stock-theft in the Conquered Territory during the 19th century. Historia, 33(1):53-68.
eNews Channel Africa [Online]. 2020. Stock theft more serious than it seems: Expert. November 16. Available at: https://www.enca.com/news/stock-theft-more-serious-it-seems-expert.
Geldenhuys, K. 2012a. Community policing project: Branding of cattle at Ntunjambili, KZN. Stock Theft workshop in Pretoria. Servamus – Community Based Safety & Security Magazine, June: 41-41.
Geldenhuys, K. 2012b. Stock theft workshop in Pretoria. Servamus – Community Based Safety & Security Magazine, June: 40.
Geldenhuys, K. 2010. Stock theft and what owners can do to protect their stock. Servamus – Community Based Safety & Security Magazine, November: 38-41.
Hennop, E, Jefferson, C and Mclean, A. 2001. The challenge to control South Africa’s borders and borderline. Monograph No. 57, August.
Khoabane, S and Black, PA. 2014. On the economic effects of livestock theft in Lesotho: An asset-based approach. Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics, 4(5):142-146.
Khoabane, S and Black, PA. 2009. The effect of livestock theft on household poverty in developing countries: The case of Lesotho. Stellenbosch Economic Working Papers. 02/09:1-8.
KwaZulu-Natal Department of Community Safety and Liaison. 2008. Stock theft in KwaZulu-Natal. KZN Department of Community Safety and Liaison: Pietermaritzburg.
Lombard, WA. 2015. The financial impact of sheep theft in the Free State province of South Africa. Unpublished Magister Scientiae Agriculturae. Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Agricultural Economics. University of the Free State: Bloemfontein.
Lombard, WA., van Niekerk, HN., van Rooyen, FM and Ogundeji, A. 2017. Factors Affecting Sheep Theft in the Free State Province of South Africa. Molecular Diversity Preservation International and Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute: Basel, Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.3390/books978-3-03842-331-7-7
Manganyi, FM., Maluleke, W and Shandu, SN. 2018. An examination of co-operative strategies towards policing stock theft in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. Acta Criminologica: Southern African Journal of Criminology, 31(4), Special Edition: Rural crime, 97-122.
Maluleke, W. 2020. Proposing a new Deoxyribonucleic Acid technology conceptual framework in combating stock theft in South Africa: Empirical evidence. Journal of the Social Sciences, 48(4), 2693- 2716.
Maluleke, W. 2018. The integration of conventional and technological methods in combating stock theft by selected stakeholders in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. Acta Criminologica: Southern African Journal of Criminology, 31(4), Special Edition: Rural crime, 123-146.
Maluleke, W. 2016. The use of Deoxyribonucleic Acid technology in combating stock theft in South Africa. Unpublished Doctor Technologiae. Faculty of Humanities, Department of Safety and Security Management. Tshwane University of Technology: Soshanguve South Campus, Pretoria.
Maluleke, W. 2020. The value of Deoxyribonucleic Acid technology in combating stock theft in the KwaZulu-Natal Province: Lessons for South African Police Service Stock Theft Units. Journal of the Social Sciences, 48(4), 2858- 2875.
Marė, J. 2012. National Stock Theft Forum report. Red Meat Procedures Organisation Congress. Available at: https://www.rpo.co.za/wp_content/uploads/2016/04/Stock_Theft_Report_-_September_2014.pdf.
Maré, J and Schutte, G. 2012. Livestock theft figures. Stock farm: Pretoria.
Matlala, MM. 2012. The use of the Automated Fingerprints Identification System to improve the quality of service rendered by the South African Police Service in the East Rand. Unpublished Magister Technologiae: Police Science dissertation. University of South Africa: Pretoria.
Minnaar, A. 2016. Research, theory and a developing criminology for rural crime. Acta Criminologica: Southern African Journal of Criminology, 29(1): i-v.
Mokale, A. 2006. Provincial Stock Theft Co-ordinator - Operation Thiba to Combat Stock Theft in Limpopo. SAPS National Head Office: Impumelelo.
National Stock Theft Prevention Forum. 2019. Press release – Livestock theft crime statistics. NSTPF: Persequor Park.
Oosthuizen, O. 2010. South African Police Service: Stock Theft Unit information brochure, Stock Theft Act, 1959 (Act No. 57 of 1959). Available at: http://www.kwanalu.co.za/upload/ files/SAPSStockTheftBrochure.pdf.
Pijoos, I. 2020. #CrimeStats: Stock theft ‘serious,’ with 26,000 sheep stolen in 3 months. November 13, Sunday Times [Online]. Available at: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-11-13-crimestats-stock-theft-serious-with-26000-sheep-stolen-in-3-months ...
Smith, R and McElwee, G. 2013. Confronting social constructions of rural criminality: A case story on ‘illegal pluriactivity’ in the farming community. Sociologia Ruralis: European Society for Rural Sociology, 53(1):112-134. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9523.2012.00580.x
South African Police Service (SAPS) Pilot’s Cabin. 2006. Stock theft. Volume 5, issue 2. September: Available at: http://www.rpol.co.za/files/stock_theft.pdf.
SAPS Crime Statistics. 2021. Crime statistics 2019/2020. Available at: https://www.saps.gov.za/services/crimestats.php
SAPS Crime Statistics. 2021. First quarter crime statistics 2020/2021. Available at: https://www.saps.gov.za/ services/crimestats.php.
SAPS Crime Statistics. 2021. Second quarter crime statistics 2020/2021. Available at: https://www.saps.gov.za/services/ crimestats.php.
SAPS Crime Statistics. 2021. Third quarter crime statistics 2020/2021. Available at: https://www.saps.gov.za/services/ crimestats.php.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Policy for Journals/Articles with Open Access
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post links to their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work
Policy for Journals / Manuscript with Paid Access
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Publisher retain copyright .
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post links to their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work .
