This as the NSTPF puts out an urgent appeal to victims of stock theft to report cases to police.

NSTPF Chairperson, Willie Clack, says their figures show that stock theft cases are underreported by about 63%.

“If we look at the amount of stock theft cases per year in South Africa, we have round about 29 000 cases reported, which in essence means its 82 per day instead of the 360 that should have been reported.

“So we are actually receiving a bad hand from Government and we have only created this problem for ourselves.”

*Willie Clack – underreporting

Clack says the underreporting of stock theft is not a new phenomenon, with historic records showing appeals for farmers to report the stock theft as far back as the 1920's. He says the underreporting means that the police do not get the resources they need to act against stock theft.

“For every 100 stock theft cases committed, only 37 are reported. So what are we going to be getting as farmers? As farmers we only get the resources from the SAPS for 37 cases instead of the 100.

“Please report the cases. We are receiving 60% less police support because we don’t report the cases.”

*Willie Clack – please report

He says one of the major reasons stock theft cases go unreported is due to a lack of trust in the police. He adds, however, that by not reporting, police remain under-resourced. He says this then leaves them unable to respond effectively, which in turn perpetuates the cycle of mistrust.

Sabrina Dean/OFM News