Stock theft awareness campaigns ‘yielding positive results’

Chairperson of the Stock Theft Information Center Randfontein says the proof is in the pudding and have they seen more people heeding the call and registering for their brandmarks.

Members from the Stock Theft Information Center (STIC) Randfontein together with the Randfontein Police and other stakeholders were ready to hit the ground running during an awareness campaign on December 21. Photo submitted.

There is a bright light at the end of the dark tunnel regarding stock theft in Rand West City despite the West Rand District Police Commissioner revealing an increasing number of stock theft cases reported for early January.

According to Commissioner Kekana, the Randfontein, Westonaria, Hekpoort, Carletonville and Fochville policing precincts are reported to be the most affected areas where stock theft is concerned in the region.

Iron brands are also used to brand livestock, which assists in identification of ownership. Photo downloaded from Pixabay.

Also read: Stock theft still a thorn in West Rand’s side

JP de Beer, chairperson of the Stock Theft Information Center (STIC) Randfontein, said they are doing all they possibly can to tackle the scourge through their intensified awareness campaigns. The campaigns, he said, are aimed at informing local farmers about stock theft and educate them about the importance of branding their livestock.

“Our efforts are bearing fruits,” he said despite reports of alarming stock theft increases. He then referred to an awareness campaign and tutorial held at JMP Auctions in Dwarskloof early last month saying, “We have been putting in a lot of resources towards awareness campaigns that we have been driving. We have been getting farmers together and we taught them how to tattoo small livestock such as goats, sheep, and pigs and we also did live presentation of tattooing in the thighs and in the ears. It’s pointless if there is livestock that has been stolen somewhere and we find it, but we can’t recover it because we can’t prove the ownership.

Also read: Stock theft still a thorn in West Rand’s side

“That’s the worst situation to find yourself in and that’s unfortunately the situation we find ourselves in constantly,” said De Beer who added that they have been tremendously driving for people to get their brandmark registrations done.

According to De Beer, the proof is in the pudding as they have seen more people heeding the call and are registering for their brandmarks.

The Stock Theft Information Center (STIC) has been holding awareness campaigns to inform farmers about the importance of branding their livestock. Photo downloaded from Pixabay.

He added that they had another massive awareness campaign on December 21, where they roped in different stakeholders such as Community Policing Forum (CPF), AfriForum, SAPS rural safety among others and patrolled different areas.