Die Nasionale Veediefstal Voorkomingsforum het verskeie sake van kritiese belang bespreek tydens sy laaste vergadering vir die jaar gehou op 13 November 2024.
Die ekonomiese verlies aan veediefstal vir die rooivleisbedryf beloop miljoene rande per jaar, maar dit is nie slegs die ekonomiese verlies vir produsente en vee-eienaars nie, dit is ook die emosionele invloed wat met veediefstal gepaardgaan. Veediefstal het ook verander van gewone potslagtery na ‘n sindidaak-misdaad.
Die Forum was van mening dat die SAPD weer veediefstal as ‘n prioriteitsmisdaad moet verklaar en dit in dieselfde kategorie plaas as die diefstal van koper, brandstof en ander ysterhoudende metale. Die ekonomiese verlies aan veediefstal vir die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie is astronomies.
Nog ‘n aspek wat kommerwekkend is vir die Forum, is die toename in die onwettige jag met honde in veediefstal. ‘n Beroep word gedoen op produsente om dié tendens nie net aan die Veediefstaleenheid te rapporteer nie, maar ook aan die DBV aangesien dié praktyk meestal gepaardgaan met brutaliteit en dieremishandeling. Die addisionele klag van dieremishandeling in ‘n veediefstalsaak, kan bydrae tot ‘n verswarende straf.
Die Forum is ten nouste betrokke by die Nasionale Vervolgingsgesag (NVG) rakende die ondersteuning vir die opleiding van staasaanklaers vir veediefstalsake. In dié verband is skakeling ook bewerkstellig met Justisie Kollege. Die Forum het egter begrip vir die finansiële uitdagings wat deur die Nasionale Vervolgingsgesag, asook Justisie ondervind word.
Die Nasionale Veediefstal Voorkomingsforum doen laastens ‘n ernstige beroep op produsente om meer betrokke te raak by die landelike veiligheidstrukture, die vestiging van Veediefstalinligtingsentrums (VIS’e) asook die rapportering van enige veediefstalsaak, hoe gering ookal. Dit is ‘n voldwonge feit dat verskeie veediefstalsake verbind kan word aan ‘n spesifieke beskuldigde om daartoe by te dra om ‘n verswarrende straf mee te bring. Dit is belangrik dat produsente bewus moet wees van die waarde wat die Beslagleggingseenheid van die NVG kan toevoeg tot verswarende straf en die beslaglegging op beskuldigdes se voertuie wat gebruik word in veediefstal.
Hiermee ‘n paar wenke vir die komende feesseisoen:-
- Sorg dat u veeregister op datum is.
- Maak seker van omheinings en lyndrade – inspekteer dit gereeld deur uself – moet nie staatmaak op u werkers nie.
- Hou u plaaslike veediefstal ondersoekbeampte se kontakbesonderhede byderhand.
- Voorkom dat u in ‘n roetine verval – moenie u lewendehawe en weidingskampe op dieselfde tye besoek nie – wissel dit af.
- Voorkom dat u eie werkers bewus is van u bewegings in hierdie tyd.
- Maak seker dat u beskik oor ‘n afskrif van u werker(s) se ID-dokument.
- Wees vertroud met persone wat u werkers besoek.
- Maak seker dat u werkers presies weet wat hulle dienstye is oor die feesseisoen.
- Indien u weggaan, maak seker dat u afwesigheid op u plaaslike veiligheidsgroepe opgelaai is – indien moontlik vra ‘n buurman om u plaas onverwags te besoek (ook dit moet nie ‘n roetine wees nie).
- Produsente wat nou plant/oes moet bedag wees (al is dit moeilik) van enige beweging in u omgewing van veral vreemde voertuie. Sensiteer u werkers om verdagte/vreemde voertuie onmiddellik aan te meld.
- Indien moontlik, moenie u lewendehawe in hierdie tyd in kampe laat wei wat grens aan toegangs- of nasionale paaie nie.
- In geval van veediefstal RAPPORTEER die saak onmiddellik!! Kry die saaknommer en volg dit op.
- Sorg dat u lewendehawe gebrand/getatoeëer is – dit is die enigste manier om eienaarskap te bewys.
The National Stock Theft Prevention Forum discussed several matters of critical importance during its last meeting for the year held on 13 November 2024.
The economic loss of livestock theft for the red meat industry amounts to millions of rands per year, but it is not only the economic loss for producers and livestock owners, it is also the emotional impact that livestock theft has. Livestock theft has also changed from ordinary pot slaughter to a syndicated crime.
The Forum was of the opinion that SAPS should again declare livestock theft as a priority crime and place it in the same category as the theft of copper, fuel and other ferrous metals. The economic loss of livestock theft to the South African economy is astronomical.
Another aspect that is of concern to the Forum is the increase in illegal hunting with dogs in livestock theft. An appeal is made to producers to report this trend not only to the Stock Theft Units, but also to the SPCA as this practice is mostly accompanied by brutality and animal abuse. The additional charge of animal cruelty in a livestock theft case can contribute to an aggravating sentence.
The Forum is closely involved with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regarding the support for the training of state prosecutors for livestock theft cases. In this regard, liaison was also established with Justice College. However, the Forum understands the financial challenges faced by the National Prosecuting Authority, as well as Justice.
Finally, the National Stock Theft Prevention Forum makes a serious appeal to producers to become more involved in the rural safety structures, the establishment of Stock Theft Information Centres (STIC’s) as well as the reporting of any livestock theft case, no matter how minor. It is an established fact that several livestock theft cases can be linked to a specific accused to contribute to an aggravating sentence. It is important that producers must be aware of the value that the Forfeiture Unit of the NPA can add to aggravated sentence and the seizure of accused’s vehicles used in livestock theft.
Herewith a few tips for the upcoming festive season:
- Ensure that your livestock register is up to date.
- Make sure of fences – inspect them regularly by yourself – do not rely on your workers.
- Keep your local stock theft investigation officer’s contact details at hand.
- Avoid falling into a routine – do not visit your livestock and grazing camps at the same time – vary them.
- Make sure your own workers are not familiar with your whereabouts during this time.
- Make sure you have a copy of your worker(s) ID document.
- Be familiar with persons who visit your workers.
- Make sure your workers know exactly what their working hours are over the festive season.
- If you are going away, make sure your absence is uploaded to your local security groups – if possible, ask a neighbour to visit your farm unexpectedly (this shouldn’t be a routine either).
- Producers who are now planting/harvesting must be aware (even if it is difficult) of any movement in your area of especially unfamiliar vehicles. Sensitise your workers to report suspicious/strange vehicles immediately.
- If possible, do not let your livestock graze in paddocks bordering access or national roads during this time.
- In case of a stock theft, REPORT the case immediately!! Get the case number and follow this up.
- Ensure that all your livestock is branded/tattooed – this is the only way to proof ownership.