The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mxolisi Kaunda has called upon the community of Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Municipality in the Harry Gwala District to declare war against stock theft.
Speaking at the stock theft dialogue attended by farmers, community crime fighting structures and law enforcement agencies, Kaunda said that although stock theft was problematic in the area, police have made great strides in arresting 42 suspects implicated in stock theft in the entire district.
The dialogue is part of a month-long November Safety Month programme which involves engaging communities on crime challenges facing their areas, multidisciplinary roadblocks, tracing and identification of crime suspects, stop and search operations to recover drugs and illegal firearms.
Recently released crime statistics ranked the Harry Gwala third in the province and 10th in the country for stock theft with 377 cases reported since April this year. Police have identified Bulwer, Ixopo, Mpendle and Mzimkulu as hotspot areas for stock theft. However, since 2014, there has been a decline in this category of crime in the district.
“While we commend the police for their sterling work in bringing this category of crime under control, we remain concern that the rate of recovery of livestock remains low. We therefore urge members of the community to work with the police and report cases of stock theft early,” said Kaunda.
Police have committed themselves in improving investigations, enforcing the Animal Identification Act and conduct intelligence-driven operations and pursue wanted stock theft suspects.
MEC Kaunda urged the community to declare war on stock theft by working closely with the police through stock theft forums. He committed government, particularly the Department of Community Safety and Liaison, Agriculture and Municipalities in conducting stock theft awareness campaigns aimed at educating livestock owners about safeguarding and correct branding of livestock. He also urged municipalities to work closely with traditional leaders in ensuring that members of the community are able to access their livestock when recovered.
In the afternoon, MEC Kaunda addressed the community of Greater Kokstad Municipality following complaints about the increased drug trafficking, murder and robbery in the area.
The MEC urged members of the community to support the police as they will be embarking intensive law enforcement operations in the area to ensure that people of Kokstad have a peaceful and safe festive season.
In strengthening the fight against crime in the area, the MEC officially launched ward safety committees which are going to work closely with the police to eradicate crime in Kokstad.
Communities urged to declare war on stock theft https://t.co/UMMBMW989W #ArriveAlive #StockTheft #KZNTransport pic.twitter.com/JKgoaZTLbe
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) November 7, 2018
