Picture: Community members during stock-theft engagement/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
30 October 2026 – The Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) in the North West on Friday, welcomed the draft comprehensive stock theft prevention strategy proposed by the Kgomo Modimo-Wa-Gae (KMWG) Anti-Crime Community Based Organisation as a positive step towards strengthening rural safety. The civil society led movement promoting the Charter of Positive Values remarked that the proposed strategy will contribute towards reducing stock theft threatening food security, as well as livelihoods including rural economies and significantly reduce frustration experienced by rural communities that has led to incidents of vigilantism.
MRM provincial convenor, Pastor Lesiba Kgwele said the engagement was held at the Disaneng Tribal Hall in Disananeg village, outside Mahikeng on Thursday. Kgwele said they are confident that the document tabled to stakeholders has laid the foundation for a consultative province-wide inclusive engagement to strengthen crime prevention for effective partnerships, as well collaboration and implementation of new strategies to tackle the scourge of stock theft threatening subsistence and commercial farmers.
“Ratlou Local Municipality, representatives of the Batlharo Boo Tokwana Ba Ga Masibi Traditional Council, the South African Police Service (SAPS), Crime Prevention Forum (CPF), as well as local farmers including MRM Provincial Committee Members, Pastor Kabelo Mothibedi and Mma-Kgosi Gosiame Seatlholo, were part of the engagement.
“We are encouraged by the mayor of Ratlou Local Municipality, Matlhomola Jafta’s commitment that the process to develop municipal by-laws that will address among others movement of livestock as well as establishment of a local pond is underway,” he said.
Kgwele further said improved police visibility, the use of technology such as cameras and drones, livestock tracking technologies, establishment of village livestock forums, cooperation with neighbouring commercial farmers to establish access protocols to support lawful investigations, were proposed by KMG Coordinator David Collins as immediate intervention measures. He expressed confidence that engagement with relevant authorities will ensure that the provincial dialogue to address stock theft impoverishing farming rural communities with key stakeholders is prioritized.
“The anticipated spike in stock theft cases ahead of the festive season must be proactively tackled through intensified visible policing within identified hotspot areas supported by vigilance across all farming communities. KMWG alleged that the criminal syndicates behind the stock theft involve butchers supplying the informal business sector within and outside the province including unscrupulous commercial farmers, some of whom have been arrested,” added Kgwele.
Meanwhile, the Ngaka Modiri Molema SAPS District Community Policing Officer and Coordinator (CPOC), Captain Kefilwe Kgositau and Makgobistad acting Station Commissioner, Warrant Officer Sehularo Thwane, appealed for cooperation, but warned against vigilantism reassuring stakeholders that police will not leave any stone unturned, if credible information is shared with them.
