Durban - Police Minister Bheki Cele says it is important for emerging farmers to work towards a common goal of bringing an end to livestock theft, because criminals are working as a syndicate which threatens to collapse farmers.
The minister made the plea addressing delegates attending the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (Afasa) conference at Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre on Monday.
The gathering has representatives from different parts of South Africa, and is meant to discuss challenges facing black emerging farmers.
One of the key concerns for farmers is the level of safety and episodes of livestock theft, which many farmers say is hampering their progress. The police minister said the department noted the concerns from farmers, and it was equally important for them to help the police by working together, as criminals were doing the same.
According to the minister, the livestock theft network was thriving because they had established a loyal and solid customer base.
“Most of the shisanyamas we have here are buying meat from stolen livestock and some of the hospitals are also buying this meat,” the minister told delegates.
He added that they were working with neighbouring countries within the Southern African Development Community region, but conceded that some of the criminals from neighbouring countries were heavily armed, singling out Lesotho as a country with some of the most heavily armed.
“When we arrested thieves from Lesotho,we recovered 15 AK47s, I have not come across such a high number of assault rifles in years. In addition to this, there were six hunting rifles and 6 000 bullets, which goes to show how serious these criminals are,” Cele said.
The minister committed to strengthening border policing as a means to stop livestock being moved to neighbouring countries.
The three-day Afasa conference, which is discussing challenges and opportunities faced by emerging farmers, is set to be addressed by Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu and Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.