Livestock theft on rise in Giyani
Farmers of Maphata village in Giyani have lost seven cows to livestock thieves during the course of one day as the cases of livestock theft continue to rise
LIMPOPO – Several farmers last Wednesday found traces of blood from animals that had been slaughtered overnight.
According to Mackson Mkansi, a farmer who lost 11 cows on his farm in a month, the police are not doing enough to prevent livestock theft.
“We have lost 18 cattle in the last 30 days and no one has been arrested yet,” he told CV.
Another farmer, Thompson Hlungwani, who was left with only two calves after all three his cows were stolen two weeks ago in the same village, is still trying to come to terms with his loss.
“Those cows were all I had, and I hoped that one day I would be able to raise them to a herd. Whoever stole them shall not have peace of mind because my tears are on him as I think about them every day,” he said.
While some farmers have started preparing themselves for a campaign to fend off cattle thieves, other groups are prepared to have the perpetrators pay with their lives.
“Let them pray that I don’t catch them in the act, otherwise it would be their last day on earth. I will not phone the police on them, the police will find them dead on the scene,” another angry farmer threatened.
Giyani police spokesperson, WO Insp Thomas Makhubele, said although the police had visited the scene after a complaint from farmers in the area, the actual owners of the slaughtered cows were yet to come forward.
He confirmed, however, that several cases of livestock theft have been reported.
“A police investigation has been instituted. What we did is send out warnings around the neighbouring villages to keep their eyes open and to report suspicious activity or theft in their areas,” he said.
