OFM News’ Lee Simmons speaks to the National Stock Theft Prevention Forum's chairperson, Willie Clark.

Clark says that the Eastern Cape stock theft percentages are not a new phenomenon and that is because the Eastern Cape is one of the biggest producers of red meat in the country - that can be a large contributing factor.  “It’s been a historical phenomenon that we do have the highest prevalence of stock theft in the Eastern Cape,” says Clark.

According to him, stock theft follows a path across the country that goes from the Eastern Cape through Gauteng and the Free State, all the way to KwaZulu-Natal.

He says basic principles to safeguard stock is to mark the animals, regularly count them and continuously report any stock theft.

Clark says the economic impact of stock theft is extreme. “We're losing round about R1.3 - 1.4 billion per year, economically, which comprises of roundabout 1.4% of our annual turnover in the red meat industry. But we need to take cognisance of the fact that the price of the animals that get stolen differs,” adds Clark.

He concludes by saying that introspection regarding what is being done to prevent stock theft is important prior to seeking government assistance. He says that plans and systems for the implementation of a traceability system are being discussed as another contingency method towards lower stock theft.

OFM News/Lee Simmons