Concerned rural farmers in the Kumkani Mhlontlo Local Municipality have joined a growing chorus of those calling for a reformed approach to tackling stock theft in the area, particularly in Tsolo town.
This is because their animals are often taken by force by ruthless heavily armed stock thieves.
Among those calling for a more proactive policing approach is young entrepreneur and budding farmer Ngawonke Bulala, from Qumbu.
In 2024, his family lost 66 sheep to stock thieves. The sheep have never been found.
“Crime has not only affected me personally or those in close proximity to me, it has become a pandemic to an extent that every fibre of our municipal area and communities are feeling its presence,” he said.
“If it is not stolen at gunpoint from our homes, it is robbed using brutal force.”
The 34-year-old said communities in Mhlontlo were consumed with fear late at night. They feared stock theft syndicates could invade their kraals and make off with their livestock.
“You never know when and you never ever feel safe, violent crime is a daily threat to community peace and stability,” he said.
Despite communities resorting to forming community safety patrols and anti-stock theft groups, it did little to deter the crime.
He said many farmers could not afford to buy expensive security technology to protect themselves and their animals.
Agriculture MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe previously described stock theft as a huge concern, saying while livestock farming was the pride and treasure in the Eastern Cape, some farmers no longer saw value in carrying on as they feared for their lives.
Bulala was among nearly 100 rural farmers in Mhlontlo who marched through the town this week to hand over a memorandum of grievances to municipal authorities and law enforcement agencies.
According to the memorandum, they are demanding more financial resources to be invested into fighting crime including rampant stock theft. This includes intensive public awareness campaigns.
“We collectively call for the reduction of crime in our communities through practical proactive measures like increased police visibility and aggressive measures towards criminals.”
It states that police should recruit energetic young people into their crime-prevention programmes and also build stronger relations with the communities they served.
The farmers also called for the use of covert tactics in infiltrating stock theft syndicates and the use of modern technologies against criminals.
It was reported recently that a farmer in Ntabozuko had 144 of his cattle stolen.
Earlier in 2025, farmers in KwaBhaca called on the government to declare stock theft a priority, warning that continued losses could affect food security in the area.
“This criminal activity has had a devastating impact on our livelihoods, food security and the local economy,” they said.
“The frequency and boldness of these thefts have increased to a point that it is no longer stock theft but stock robbery, as these criminals are heavily armed and kill our people.”
They requested an increase in police visibility and night-time patrols, particularly along routes they said were frequently used by stock thieves, including Tina Bridge and Chancele along the N2.
Questions were sent to provincial police spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli on Tuesday. He had not responded by the time of publication.
Daily Dispatch
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