Question NW422 to the Minister of Police
12 March 2021 - NW422
Majozi, Ms Z to ask the Minister of Police
What have been the findings of the task team he appointed to investigate stock theft in the Free State amid an increase in the crime which he described as eConomic sabotage;
Reply:
(1) During the intervention it was discovered that the Stock Then information Centre was not in place. The following government departments and organisations are represented in the Stock Theft information Centre:
The department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) Stock Theft and Endangered Species Units.
Red Meat Organisations.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Live Stock Farmers, National Agricultural Farmers Union (NAFU).
Transvaal Agricultural Union (TAU).
The purpose of the Stock Theft information Centre, is as follows:
The sharing of intelligence between communities and detectives
Providing feedback, with regard to stock theft cases.
Creating community awareness, with regard to relevant legislation, e.g. the Animal Identification Act, the Stock Theft Act and the Meat Safety Act, etc.
Joint visits to livestock and meat disposal points.
Discouraging the community not to mediate serious stock theft court cases.
(2) The SAPS 1s continuously monitoring the stock theft trends and where a similar trend is noticed, various approaches are put in place after analysing the facts. There are currently four task teams operating in identified stock theft hotspots in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, in various districts.
Reply to question 422 recommended
GENERAL NATIONAL COMMISSIONER: SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE
KJ SITOLE (SOEG)
Date: 2021-03-04
Reply to question 422 approved
MIISTER OF POLICE
GEERAL BH CELE, MP
Date: 12/03/2021