This was revealed on Thursday (29/5), during the release of the provincial crime statistics by the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management.

While the overall decline in stock theft is encouraging, concerns have been raised about specific areas showing alarming trends. Taung has experienced a 22.2% increase in stock theft cases, positioning it as the seventh most problematic area for stock theft in the country.

The MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, expressed concern over the developments in Taung. “According to farmers in Taung they have traced their livestock in KwaZulu-Natal.”  

Morweng said investigations into some of the incidents have unveiled the involvement of both local individuals and external criminal networks. “In instances where arrests have been made investigation has revealed some of the local people are working with outsiders. The stolen livestock such as goats is then transported in combis and in some cases panel vans. The pattern indicates this livestock is stolen in remote villages at grazing fields or cattle posts,” he said.

 “Stock theft is also a cross-border problem between North West and Botswana, and the problem is caused by the porous, dilapidated, vast border fence,” Morweng said.

He said the Provincial Commissioner, through the Provjoints structure has engaged with Botswana’s security agencies to tackle the transnational crime. Morweng shared encouraging news regarding general crime trends in the province. “In general, the fourth quarter saw the 2024/25 financial year through a positive end, with a decrease in crime levels.” 

‘Improvement is due to proactive policing’

He attributed this improvement in part to proactive policing. The province recorded a 17.1% increase in crimes detected as a result of police actions, equating to 587 more cases where potential crimes were prevented. Among these, police interventions averted 44.5% of what would have been sexual offences.

Regarding the distribution of crime across the province, Bojanala district contributed the highest crime weight at 44%, followed by Dr Kenneth Kaunda (24.9%), Ngaka Modiri Molema (20.4%), and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati (10.7%).

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi