In a parliamentary question posed by Economic Freedom Fighters representative Mothusi Montwedi, concerns were raised over the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) ongoing efforts to combat stock theft, which remains a serious threat to the agricultural sector and rural livelihoods. The Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, responded with a comprehensive overview of the SAPS’s strategic and operational initiatives over the past three financial years.

Strategy and Resources

The SAPS confirmed that rural safety, with a specific focus on stock theft prevention, remains a top priority. The cornerstone of their efforts is the Rural Safety Strategy, implemented in 2020. This multi-year plan aims to bolster safety in rural areas through integrated policing and collaboration with stakeholders such as the Departments of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform, and organised farming bodies.

Key interventions under the strategy include:

• Establishing Rural Safety Priority Committees at all levels of government.

• Partnering with the National Stock Theft Forum and Stock Theft Information Centres (STICs).

• Linking SAPS operations to private security networks through the Eyes and Ears (E2) project.

• Engaging in cross-border initiatives under SARPCCO and SADC frameworks.

To bolster investigative capacity, SAPS developed a Stock Theft Prevention and Investigation Guideline in 2023/24 and conducted nationwide training. A total of 263 investigators have completed the Stock Theft Investigators’ Learning Programme. Specialised Stock Theft and Endangered Species Units (ST&ESUs) have been established in all nine provinces, with 93 units operational nationally.

Livestock in Pounds

The SAPS provided figures on livestock currently impounded:

• Public pounds: 71 animals

• Private pounds: 652 animals

The Eastern Cape and North West provinces account for the majority of livestock held in private facilities, with 211 and 349 animals respectively.

Livestock Not Returned to Owners

Data over the past three financial years shows a sharp rise in livestock not returned to owners:

• 2022/23: 2 animals

• 2023/24: 82 animals (many forfeited to the state)

• 2024/25: 328 animals

The Eastern Cape alone reported 225 unreturned animals this year, while North West saw 66 cases.

Challenges and Disposal Procedures

Three primary challenges hinder the return of livestock:

1. Non-compliance with the Animal Identification Act, which mandates livestock marking.

2. Owners’ inability to pay pound-related fees.

3. Animal deaths due to illness while impounded.

Disposal of unclaimed or seized livestock is managed according to the SAPS National Instruction 8 of 2017: Property and Exhibit Management, particularly sections addressing livestock and the disposal of exhibits. These procedures include proper documentation, legal processes, and potential forfeiture to the state.

While the SAPS has outlined a structured and multi-agency approach to stock theft, the growing number of unreturned animals signals ongoing challenges in enforcement, compliance, and rural safety logistics. The issue remains a critical point of concern for both food security and economic stability in South Africa’s agricultural regions.