This while three people arrested in connection with the theft of nearly R 50 000 worth of livestock, outside Kuruman in the Northern Cape last week Friday, are appearing in the Mothibistad Magistrate's Court today.

Crime statistics released in September, reveals instances of stock theft rose for the third consecutive financial year, increasing by 2,9% over the 2018/19 period. Farm murders on the other hand, declined from 62 to 47 murders over 41 incidents. Didiza expressed her condolences to those who lost their loved ones in such incidences.

The spike during the festive season however, may not come as a total surprise.

In early December 2019, Station Commander at Tierpoort police station which falls under Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, Christiaan van der Merwe, spoke at length on stock theft and emphasised that those who are less fortunate may be inclined to steal stock during this festive period, because there is pressure to provide food for family.

He also stressed the importance of roping in various stakeholders in fighting crime in rural areas. “A lot of time, the environment has an impact on crime and especially in rural areas. One example is that sometimes criminals chase stolen livestock into quarries, where they then load the livestock, without being seen”, says Van Der Merwe. One way to counter this issue he says is to consult the municipality along with the community to discuss putting cameras into those quarries or have those areas patrolled and/or observed. The Station Commander stresses the importance of having these partnerships because they “serve large areas, so its impossible to be everywhere”.

Didiza has in a statement lauded the work done by police to contain the problem. She further urges members of the public not to purchase stolen meat, as was the case in Kuruman when it was revealed the suspects allegedly had buyers lined up to purchase the meat.

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