Latest news with #RuralSafetyStrategy
IOL News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Tackling rural crime: Agriculture minister unveils new strategies
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has unveiled key strategies to tackle rural crime in South Africa. Image: Henk Kruger / Independent Newspapers The escalating threat of rural crime in South Africa has necessitated a multi-faceted approach. Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen revealed key initiatives the department is taking following a parliamentary question by the DA's Willie Aucamp. Aucamp's query concerned Steenhuisen's comments to US President Donald Trump and the steps he intended to take to address the crimes. In the White House, Steenhuisen said South Africa has a rural safety problem, and it requires more policing resources and a different strategy to deal with it. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Responding to the question, Steenhuisen said the department plays a supporting but essential role in addressing rural crime, particularly stock theft, within the broader framework of cooperative governance. 'While primary responsibility for crime prevention, including farm murders and stock theft, lies with the South African Police Service (SAPS), our department is actively involved in several key initiatives that contribute to prevention, detection, and deterrence,' Steenhuisen said. 1. Support to the Rural Safety Strategy via the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC): 'Our department is a participating member of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Agriculture and Land Reform. This committee works closely with the SAPS to implement the Rural Safety Strategy, with a strong focus on the protection of farming communities,' Steenhuisen said. He said their role in the IMC includes coordinating with law enforcement on risk hotspot identification, supporting crime intelligence through data on livestock ownership and movement, and promoting integrated rural safety plans across the provinces. 2. Animal identification and traceability reforms: 'A core element of curbing stock theft is improving our ability to trace livestock and proving ownership,' Steenhuisen said. He said the department is: Finalising the Draft Regulations on Animal Identification (2025) for public comment in the first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. Promoting a decentralised animal identification system that enhances traceability, allows tracking at auctions and abattoirs, and empowers local enforcement. Introducing biometric and DNA-based technologies to strengthen traceability, including radio frequency identification tags, nose prints, and DNA profiling. Strengthening compliance with the Animal Identification Act (Act No. 6 of 2002) and Animal Improvement Act (Act No. 62 of 1998) through education and farmer support. 3. Farmer awareness campaigns: 'We are working jointly with provincial Departments of Agriculture, SAPS, and local municipalities to roll out national farmer engagements,' Steenhuisen said. These focus on raising awareness around the legal obligation for animal identification, training farmers on animal improvement and theft prevention, and mobilising rural communities to take a proactive role in joint safety planning and reporting of criminal activity. 4. Research and innovation: 'Our department has invested in research and development to explore innovative approaches for animal identification,' Steenhuisen said. He stated that work includes using DNA testing to create a genetic blueprint of individual animals, assessing new technologies for more secure identification and proof of ownership in court, and exploring ways to integrate identification systems with national sanitary controls and food safety protocols. 5. Legislative and institutional strengthening: 'We acknowledge several institutional and legislative challenges that impede the effective enforcement of stock theft laws,' Steenhuisen said. He added that these include the centralisation and duplication of animal identification marks, farmer resistance to branding animals, weak monitoring at auctions and abattoirs, and lack of control over informal livestock markets and animal movement across porous borders. These are addressed by advocating for improved monitoring and reporting mechanisms across the supply chain, collaborating with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to ensure successful prosecution of livestock-related crimes, and supporting proposals for enhanced regulatory oversight of livestock trade. 'Farm attacks and stock theft remain a serious threat to rural safety, food security, and investor confidence in our agricultural sector. While the Department of Agriculture is not the lead enforcement agency, we are actively leveraging our legislative mandate, technical capacity, and collaborative platforms to strengthen prevention mechanisms,' Steenhuisen said. 'As part of our engagements with international stakeholders, including the United States, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting farmers, ensuring agricultural sustainability, and addressing rural crime in all its forms.'
The Citizen
17-06-2025
- The Citizen
Stock theft crisis: Police struggle to return livestock to owners
The death of impounded animals due to ill health further complicates the process and reduces the number of livestock that can be returned to their owners, South African police are grappling with a mounting livestock crisis, with 328 animals unclaimed by their owners in the 2024-25 financial year alone — a dramatic increase from just two animals three years ago. The figures were recently revealed by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu in response to parliamentary questions. The crisis has escalated sharply over the past three years, with 82 livestock going unclaimed in 2023-24 compared to only two in 2022-23. Currently, police facilities and private pounds across the country are housing 723 animals, with the majority—652 livestock—kept in private facilities while 71 remain in public pounds. Rural safety strategy launched to combat stock theft Mchunu outlined government's comprehensive approach to addressing the problem when responding to questions from EFF MP Mothusi Kenneth Montwedi. 'Rural safety, including stock theft prevention, is a priority for the South African Police Service (Saps), and as part of this commitment, the multi-year Rural Safety Strategy was developed and approved in 2020,' Mchunu stated. The strategy aims to enhance safety and security in rural areas while ensuring food security through an integrated policing approach. Mchunu emphasised the collaborative nature of the initiative, explaining that it 'encourages collaboration with various stakeholders, including government departments, such as the Departments of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform, and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.' The police service has established multiple coordinating mechanisms to address the issue, including Rural Safety Priority Committees, which function as subcommittees of the Joint Operations and Intelligence Structures at national, provincial, district, and station levels. According to Mchunu, a National Stock Theft Forum was also created in partnership with the Red Meat Producers' Organisation to serve as a collaborative platform for addressing stock theft. ALSO READ: Two Lesotho shepherds killed in violent stock theft incident in Free State Specialised units and training programmes deployed To strengthen investigative capabilities, the Saps has established 93 Stock Theft and Endangered Species Units throughout all nine provinces. Mchunu said specialised units are mandated to investigate all stock theft and endangered species-related cases. 'The ST&ESUs are resourced in terms of their physical and human resource needs. During the past three financial years, a total of 263 investigators were trained in the Stock Theft Investigators' Learning Programme,' Mchunu stated. The police service also developed a Stock Theft Prevention and Investigation Guideline in 2023-24 and conducted capacity-building sessions across all provinces, districts, and rural police stations to create awareness about prevention measures and investigation contributions. ALSO READ: Baanksy, the sheep who learnt to paint from Pigcasso, still missing [VIDEO] Provincial distribution reveals uneven impact The current livestock holdings reveal significant provincial variations in the crisis. North West province houses the largest number of animals in private pounds, with 349 livestock, while Eastern Cape has 211 animals in private facilities and 14 in public pounds. Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, and Western Cape also maintain both public and private pound facilities, while Free State and KwaZulu-Natal report no livestock currently in custody. The unclaimed animals for 2024-25 are concentrated primarily in the Eastern Cape with 225 livestock, the North West with 66 animals, and the Western Cape with 24. Several provinces, including Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and Mpumalanga, reported no unclaimed livestock for the current financial year. ALSO READ: Stock theft crisis deepens along SA borders with over 1 200 cattle cases reported in the last year Key challenges hampering return efforts Mchunu identified several critical obstacles preventing the successful return of livestock to their owners. The primary challenge stems from community non-compliance with the Animal Identification Act of 2002. 'Failure by communities to comply with section 7 of the Animal Identification Act, 2002 (Act No. 6 of 2002), which requires all livestock, e.g. cattle, sheep, goats, etc., to be marked,' represents a significant barrier to identifying rightful owners. Financial constraints also impede reunification efforts, particularly in cases where animals were impounded as strays and owners cannot afford the associated pound fees required for release. Additionally, the death of impounded animals due to ill health further complicates the process and reduces the number of livestock available for return. ALSO READ: Six nabbed for stock theft worth over R6m in Eastern Cape Disposal procedures and legal framework The management and disposal of seized or impounded livestock follows strict protocols outlined in the Saps National Instruction 8 of 2017 regarding Property and Exhibit Management. Mchunu noted that the procedures are 'outlined in detail in the Saps' National Instruction 8 of 2017: Property and Exhibit Management,' specifically referencing paragraphs 18 and 19 covering livestock management and disposal of exhibits in police custody. The minister indicated that detailed information about these procedures could be provided to parliamentary members upon request, suggesting the complexity and comprehensive nature of the protocols governing livestock handling. Cross-border cooperation and technology integration The police service has extended its anti-stock theft efforts beyond national borders through participation in Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation forums in border provinces and Southern African Development Community initiatives to address cross-border crime and stock theft. Technology plays an increasingly important role in the strategy, with existing Operational Command Centres at national, provincial and district levels linked to private security industry capabilities through the Eyes and Ears Project. Stock Theft Information Centres contribute to effective information flow and prevention efforts, particularly at the station level. NOW READ: Steenhuisen pushes 'zero tolerance' for cattle attacks
