Stock theft up 10%
2003-09-22 16:56
Cape Town - Stock theft has increased by 10% over the past financial year, according to the latest SA Police Service annual report, released on Monday.
The document describes the theft of stock in South Africa as "a very emotional issue, which can even lead to murder".
The report covers the period April 1, 2002, to March 31 this year.
"Stock theft is contributing to a belief among commercial farmers (and especially white commercial farmers) that the so-called farm attacks serve as terror attacks designed to drive them off their land," it says.
The crime could influence farmers' decisions about the keeping of stock, and in this way affect the level of food production in South Africa.
"Stock theft has increased by 10% between the 2001/02 and 2002/03 financial years," the report states.
Although it made up only 1.8% of the country's serious reported crime, "its impact should therefore not be underestimated".
- SAPA