- 21 240 livestock stolen in three years
- 7 382 cases registered with police
Stock theft has become the latest cash cow and low hanging fruit for criminals, as over 21 240 livestock were reported stolen to the Botswana Police Service countrywide in past three years.
Deputy Director of Anti-Stock theft Branch, Assistant Commissioner Sarah Gabathuse revealed these staggering numbers recently at the Land Pitso held in Francistown,
“Between the year 2022 and 2024, Botswana Police Services registered 7 382 cases of stock theft. In 2022, 8 229 livestock was stolen, the following year there was a slight decrease, 7 592 livestock was stolen. And last year of the 2 291 cases of stock theft registered, 5 419 animals were stolen,” explained Assistant Commissioner Gabathuse.
“Stock theft has become more a lucrative and profitable crime for criminals. The criminals have moved away from robberies, house break ins to stock theft. They tell us it is very easy to steal livestock, quick to sell and make a quick buck. So in short, stock theft has is a thriving business for the criminals with the main perpetrators being herd boys, butcheries owners, organized stock theft syndicates, individuals, auctioneers, farmers and business people.”
Gabathuse highlighted the Southern part of the country from Lobatse up to Kgalakgadi as the hotspot for stock theft. She indicated that goats and cattle are the most vulnerable targets.
“Out the 5 419 livestock stolen last year, 2 365 were goats and the rest were cattle. We have witnessed a trend where goats are stolen more often and in bigger numbers. The criminals can wipe out an entire kraal in one night. For example, 20 goats were stolen from one farmer at one go. Of late donkeys are also being stolen it seems they are on demand”, Gabathuse highlighted.
“In most cases the livestock is driven across the border into South African. This trend has of late become prevalent in the North West district were livestock is rustled into Namibia.”
She said stock theft criminals operate as syndicates, with some of their members mainly engaged for identifying and monitoring the movement of livestock. Gabathuse said another group will come in drive out the cattle, goats or sheep at night.
Assistant Commissioner Gabathuse lamented that farmers do not look after their livestock but leave them to stray. She added that criminals also found it easy to steal cattle in Botswana because farmers take long or do not brand their animals. “Once the livestock has crossed into a neighbouring country it becomes a mammoth task to identify or claim the stock as yours”, she pointed out.
“Some of the beasts are slaughtered in and outside farms. Then carcasses are transported to butcheries and other target markets such street food vendors.”
