Theft forces farmers to quit

2004-10-06 16:27

Cape Town - Some Western Cape farmers have stopped rearing livestock because of stock theft and the lack of a police stock theft unit, organised agriculture said on Wednesday.

"If we listen to the successes of livestock theft units, the Western Cape cannot afford to be without one," said Christiaan van Lamp of the SA Pork Producers Organisation.

Details of the scale of livestock theft in the Western Cape emerged at the latest meeting of Agri Wes-Cape's livestock theft committee, which represents all interested parties.

In the past year animals worth about R8m - mainly sheep - have been reported stolen.

Areas with livestock theft units have seen a considerable decrease in such crime.

But in the Cape Metropole where the livestock theft unit was withdrawn three years ago, theft has increased to the point where farmers in the area have stopped livestock farming.

"The theft cycle does not stop and we are unable to defend ourselves against losses," said Villiers Loubser, chair of the provincial livestock theft committee and a Swartland farmer who has given up sheep farming because of stock theft.

Police were not immediately available for comment.

- SAPA