THE Inkatha Freedom Party has warned rural communities to look after their livestock as stock theft is rife during the festive season.
‘Cattle farmers are tired of losing their livestock to organised crime and we urge police to get cattle theft under control,’ said IFP KZN spokesperson on agriculture, Nhlanhla Msimango.
‘When cattle are offered cheaply, buyers should be suspicious.’
‘We are also concerned about butchers who slaughter cattle in the bush, and then sell the meat without proper inspection by health inspectors.
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‘This is a common practice at pension pay points.’
He called on relevant authorities to put more effort into the control of butcheries and create small-scale establishments in the districts to bring about a new buying and selling system of carcasses in KZN.
He said such control will strengthen the meat market and ensure all bulk supplies emanate from legal sources.
‘It would also ease control mechanisms by making buyers account for the meat they sell,’ said Msimango.
‘The IFP calls on the KZN MEC for Agriculture, Themba Mthembu, to roll out a provincial livestock marking and tracking programme to combat stock theft.’
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