Farmers are already doing everything they can and spending millions of rand on private security and camera systems to protect their livestock.
It is government’s responsibility to prevent crime and apprehended thieves – something that it is clearly not doing effectively at the moment.
According to the police’s warning, more than 1 600 cattle and 730 sheep were stolen in the Free State over the past month, with an estimated value of approximately R8 million.
Hierdie syfer weerspieël egter nie die ware omvang van die verlies nie. Selfs jong speenkalwers en goedkoper skape sou saam minstens R15 miljoen werd wees. Indien teeldiere, dragtige verse of bulle onder die gesteelde diere was, is die werklike verlies aansienlik hoër. Die emosionele én finansiële impak op boere kan ook nie bloot in geldwaarde gemeet word nie.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) will formally request the MEC for Community Safety, Roads and Transport, Mr Jabu Mbalula, to disclose how many livestock theft cases were reported over the past twelve months and how many of these led to arrests and successful prosecutions.
Many farmers have stopped reporting incidents, because the local authorities have failed them and cases are often left unsolved.
In addition, the Freedom Front Plus demands to meet with the Department to discuss the implementation of the rural safety strategy. The strategy needs to be properly implemented to prevent livestock theft and safeguard farmers’ livestock and property.
Farmers should no longer suffer livestock and revenue losses because the authorities are failing to fulfil their responsibilities. Government must step up and fulfil its constitutional duty.
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