By Obakeng Maje
The South African Police Service National Management Forum decided that a Stock Theft Pilot Projects be implemented in all nine provinces to re-confirm the success achieved.

The Provincial Management decided that the Pilot Project must be executed in 5 Clusters in the Province.

“The following clusters/ areas were identified as areas where the Stock Theft Pilot Projects would be implemented. Wolmaransstad, Taung, Zeerust, Brits and Mahikeng” captain Pelonomi Makau said.                                  
Police said actions to be executed during the operations will include, visit to kraals, abattoirs, auctions, chisa nyamas, butcheries, pension pay outs, tuck shops, roadblocks, VCP’s, cattle posts, villages, farms, speculators and community grounds.

“Community meetings to educate community about Stock Theft Act, Meat Safety Act, and Animal Identification Act will be conducted.  Other Departments will also be involved in integrating the approach” she said.

Suspect raiding on Stock Theft related cases as well as the investigation of newly reported Stock Theft cases will also be part of the project.

In Wolmaransstad Cluster, the operation was launched on 6 January 2014 and the following successes were reported:

Nine abattoirs and 9 butcheries and 9 auctions were visited, 132 persons were searched and 4 roadblocks were conducted.

Nine suspects were arrested for stock theft (all stock), 2 for possession of suspected stolen goods, 62 cattle were seized but were since handed back to their owners, and 43 were arrested for the Animal Identification Act and 3 for Meat Safety Act.

“In Pudimoe cluster, the following successes were conducted, 6 businesses, 105 cattle posts and 3 farms, 2 auctions were visited and 56 persons were searched” Makau said.

Seven suspects were arrested for theft of all stock, 76 arrested for Animal identification act, 3 goats and 3 horsed were also seized.

In Zeerust cluster, the following successes were achieved: 15 butcheries, 233 cattle posts were visited. 441 persons and 11 suspects were searched. Arrests were also made at the cluster and 65 cattle were seized.

Brits cluster accomplished the following successes: 50 cattle posts, 3 pounds were visited. 521 persons and 22 suspects were searched.

“Statistics shows that there is a decrease in the stock theft cases. Wolmaransstad has 31,69% decrease, 55% decrease at Pudimoe cluster , 44,10% and an increase at Zeerust and 12, 5% in Brits” police said.

In Mahikeng, police arrested 142 suspects for Animal Identification Act and 1 was also arrested for contravening the Meat Safety Act.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_