Rural farmers in the OR Tambo district, who have long been under siege from ruthless stock thieves, resulting in losses amounting to millions of rand each year, have a fresh battle on their hands.
Police warned of a new scam this week in which victims of stock theft were being extorted by swindlers posing as investigating officers who demand money in exchange for the safe return of their “recovered” livestock.
Statistics released earlier in 2024 by transport and community safety MEC Xolile Nqatha for the period between October and December 2023 showed that KwaBhaca, in the Alfred Nzo district, was rated number 1 provincially and nationally for stock theft, followed by Qumbu, Mthatha, Tsolo and Bityi, in the OR Tambo district.
This year alone, livestock amounting to more than R1.3m has reportedly been recovered in different areas in OR Tambo.
A shocked OR Tambo district police acting commissioner, Brigadier Vukile Ntandane, said police had received several complaints from farmers who had been scammed by people pretending to be police officers and promising to return their stolen animals which, they insisted, had been recovered.
“We have learnt of the alarming news about stock theft victims who become victims for the second time after their livestock has been stolen because of scammers who ask them for money, claiming that they will bring back their stolen livestock, pretending to be investigating officers,” Ntandane said.
“Stock theft victims are warned never to give a deposit or send money to anyone claiming to be a police official who will bring back their stolen livestock.
“The investigating officer will never ask for money in return of his or her rendered services as the SAPS is a nonprofit-making organisation.
“Whether the scammer pretends to be an officer of the law, should they ask for money, please arrange to meet them at the police station to address the issue or call the investigating officer working on your case on the number that was provided to you.”
OR Tambo district police spokesperson Captain Welile Matyolo confirmed hat at least six farmers had come forward saying they had been scammed.
He said the swindlers would often call the victim and ask for a deposit to be paid at a Pep store.
They usually demanded payment of between R1,500 and R5,000 for the return of the stolen livestock.
Some of the victims were from Mthatha villages such as Tabase and Mpeko, Matyolo said.
In his state of the province address earlier in 2024, premier Oscar Mabuyane said more than 2,000 people had been arrested for stock theft in the Eastern Cape in the past five years, of whom 700 had been convicted.
Speaking at the launch of the Livestock Identification and Traceability System (LITS) in Tsolo in May, Mabuyane said stock theft was costing emerging rural farmers millions of rand, with more than 18,000 animals worth over R58m having been stolen across the province recently.
He said the LITS technology — which involves the introduction of an electric ear-tag device — was not only about the state trying to ensure that animals were branded, but “we are sending a message to all the thieves out there that we’ll be after you in a better and organised manner”.
Mazwi Maliwa, a 68-year-old emerging farmer who recently had 67 of his sheep stolen in Mabhobho village in rural KwaBhaca, told the Dispatch that between 3,000 and 5,000 sheep had been stolen in the village since the start of the year.
In previous incidents, his horse was stolen and 22 of his sheep were rustled in 2021 and never recovered.
“We caught a young man [who] stole my horse and he confessed to the crime.
“But he was released on the way to the police station and came back to steal again in our village,” Maliwa said.
“It is difficult to work with [the police] because some collude with these criminals.
“I have made peace with the fact that I am not going to get [the 67 stolen sheep] back.
“Instead of being worried about the sheep, I have decided to prioritise my own health now.
“While my son has opened a case, I did not even bother to go looking for the sheep because I know nothing is going to happen.”
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