Perspectives on Stock Theft Prevention in the Selected Provinces of South Africa: Failures and Successes

Residents of Limpopo (LIM) and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province are witnessing higher rates of stock theft, with the inhabitants of the selected communities living in fear for the prevention of this scourge. This study explores the extent of this crime in the selected areas of LIM and KZN, considering contributory factors, determining the relationship between the South African Police Service Stock Theft Units (SAPS STUs) and other relevant stakeholders, as well as looking at existing strategies (And their failures and successes) in responding to this crime effectively. A qualitative research approach coupled with Non-probability: Purposive sampling was used in this study. The targeted population consisted of 113 participants. For data collections, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and Observation Schedules were adopted. lack of appropriate preventative measures has led to rise of stock theft, it was, therefore, discovered that both the affected livestock farmers and members of the community lost confidence toward the police, Besides, the perspectives on stock theft prevention in LIM and KZN reflect a greater challenge, with inadequate solutions present, since the current preventative measures are ineffective. Thus, understanding stock theft phenomenon is critical to its prevention as the sector of livestock in South Africa is the contributory key to the value of the agricultural economy.


INTRODUCTION AND PROBLEM FORMULATION
The backbone and a source of political and social influence to numerous rural communities across South Africa is upon livestock farming. In addition, livestock symbolise prosperity and prestige, provide an important source of wealth, food, income, social identity, recognition, pride and status. Livestock, such as Cattles' are of fundamental value since they are not only a source of food, but also crucial for social capital, which is essential for distinct negotiations as well as social investment in various rural communities. Livestock is regarded as a "living wealth" in rural communities because these animals mostly sustain and furnish source income to numerous rural communities. Livestock farming significantly contributes to the livelihoods of people residing in the rural areas of developing countries (Maluleke, 2020a).
It is presented that this study is timely, as the importance of stock theft crimes committed across the selected rural communities of South Africa keeps on increasing. The extent of this crime is not comprehended by the CJS or the academia in large. Therefore, it is hoped that this study can breached a gap and foster relationship between identified, relevant stakeholders to prevent stock theft through the use of available technologies, combined with the conventional strategies in the LIM and KZN Provinces.
Statiscally; The SAPS Crime Statistics (2021) shares the following reported cases of stock theft in the LIM and KZN Provinces, as depicted in Table 1; from these statistics, this crime increased drastically and unstable in the 2019/200 and 2020/2021 financial years nor reporting periods, this indicates that this crime is obviously becoming an international and local growing challenge, which is more multifaceted in nature, than a simple property-related crime, as other scholars confirmed.
In support of the provided statistics in Table 1, it can be confirmed that more than 14,000 Cattle are reported stolen, ending-up in 'Abattoirs, Butcheries' and on plates of unsuspecting South Africans. The current value chain is undisturbed, also fueling economic sabotage, requiring collaborative efforts by the local SAPS STUs and other relevant departments to succor in the trailing, locating, marking and motility of livestock, Pijoos (2020). Furthermore, between July and September of 2020, approximately 7,339 stock theft cases were reported nationwide. Over 26,300 Sheep were also reported stolen, eNews Channel Africa [eNCA] (2020). While acknowledging that stock theft, as a rural crime, is seldom researched. Therefore, this study addresses the perspectives on stock theft prevention in the selected South African provinces to highlight the current successes and failures regarding this crime, as a precise rural crime that remains a conundrum to both rural South Africans and its transnational counterparts. Dean (2020) highlights that in the financial year 2018/2019, R1,2 billion of Cattles, Sheeps and Goats were stolen only in South Africa, NSTPF (2019).
It is also revealed that this table applied to the value of animals stolen and did not account for additional costs such as the judicial processes, recovery costs, farmer costs, and policing, among others. Moreover, 30 000 livestock were also reported stolen during this period. Besides, the value of the Cattle that were stolen was approximately R900 million (Constituting about R200 million worth of stolen Sheep and R100 millions of Goat). The major losses that were reported to the police transpired in KZN Province, where the most Cattle were stolen; followed by the Eastern Cape (EC), where the target was generally Sheep; and thereafter the Free State (FS), where both Cattle and Sheep were targeted by thieves. In support to this submission; Maluleke (2020b) submits that stock theft still remains one of the biggest obstacle grappling agricultural sector. All provinces across South African provinces are mostly affected by this priority crime, it is also touted as a more severe threat in regions that are neighboring other countries, such as the EC, FS, KZN, North West (NW) and Mpumalanga (MP) Provinces.
Subsequently, Chelin (2019) delivers that the most crucial challenge that remain is that only 20% of stock theft cases are reported across South Africa, connoting that the actual table of this crime is unknown. This It is proposed by researchers and investigators that stock theft is no longer limited to just stealing for sustenance, it has, therefore, advanced into an organised crime whereby crime syndicates are thought to be accountable for stealing enormous numbers of livestock (Clack, 2013;KZN DCSL, 2008;and Oosthuizen, 2010).
Therefore, the objective of this paper is to explore perspectives on stock theft prevention in the designated provinces of South Africa. This was done by looking closely at the effectiveness of current strategies of policing this crime to clear determine exiting failures and successes.

BRIEF LITERATURE REVIEW
SAPS National Crime Prevention Division (NCPD) held a National Rural Safety Conference (NRSC) from 23 to 25 of October 2001 in Midrand, Gauteng (GP) Province of South Africa, to furnish strategies aimed at preventing stock theft in South Africa at 'National level' and to amended the then socio-economic developments as they were mentioned to assist in the prevention of stock theft, while developing the capability to prevent the occurrence of this crime and to further implement strategies for developing rural areas across the country. So, this scourge can also be committed towards the subsistence farmers, further induce susceptibility and maximising poverty (KZN DCSL, 2008).
Furthermore, represented countries on the initial 'Southern African Regional Conference on Stock Theft' hosted from 7 to10 May 2002 in Pretoria; by the six Secretariat of the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Co-operation Organisation (SARPCCO) coincided on the commitment to provide a guiding principle to control the mobility of livestock. Additionally, the usage of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) technology was further conferred to succour the identification of individual animals (Maré &Schutte, 2012:60 andGeldenhuys, 2010). Burger (2007) shares that stock theft can be monitored exerting proactive approach to policing can hinders the possible culprit from engaging in a particular criminal act at a precise location and time. In this sense, the police's view is that this crime can be perceived as 'directly preventable" by the police activities. Therefore, stock theft is a crime, which is practically policeable as it can be prevented, and, thus, can deterred by an intensification of conventional policing (I.e. Visible patrols at the precise time, and location; the deployment of police officials in uniform; police warnings to the public; roadblocks; stop-andsearch actions; and cordon-and-search operations).
Moreover, Geldenhuys (2010) postulates that within the time frame of three years (2007 to 2009), the focused was rested upon the arrangement of the SAPS STUs by the police. So, they revised the related Units' locations, to decide whether they were conveniently present to the service areas on this regard. Regions with the drastic upsurge of stock theft were also observed to establish STUs, encompassing Greytown, in KZN and Giyani, in LIM Province. The 'Special Stock Theft Courts' and resurrection of 'Rural Safety Unit' are extremely required to enhance current the legislation and permit stiffer fines and sentences for stock thieves.
In an attempt to prevent this crime, operations are staged, notably; 'Operation Charlie' was viewed as one of the preventative measures that could be effectively applied by the SAPS, in conjunction with neighbouring countries, to prevent, and combat stock theft, Hennop, Jefferson and Mclean (2001). It was initiated on the EC/Lesotho border in early 1996. This operation is still on-going in the Rhodes area, with huge success, and stock theft has dropped significantly in this area. Containers were erected in this area, and are used as observation posts (Geldenhuys, 2010).
Furthermore, 'co-operation and communication' were established in respond to this crime to intensify the international and regional partnership, and cooperation. Thus, the Border Police were represented on different committees, forums, and organisations, such as the District Liaison Committees (DLC) on the Lesotho border, the SARPCCO, as well as several bilateral and trilateral forums between South Africa and some of its neighbours, including Botswana, and Mozambique (SAPS, 2002).
In the selected rural areas of LIM Province [Giyani Policing Area -GPA in this regard]; the Mahlasegi Cluster Livestock Forum was formed on 22 August 2012. It comprises of Malamulele, Hlanganani, Sekgosese, and Giyani to act as operational areas, with the objectives of uniting and advising the community of livestock farmers to be involved in the development of their areas, with small and large stock and ensure that this community advise and encourage community participation in the prevention of stock theft, and veld fires, among others.
Furthermore, the SAPS 'Operation Thiba' was inducted in the LIM Province in January 2004, with collaborations of the local Department of Police, Farmers' Organisations/Unions, Departments ofHealth (DoH), Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) and Safety and Security, Chiefs and Indunas to combat stock theft across the province. This was, however, introduced to ensure meticulously investigations of cases, including theft of Goats, Sheep and Cattle, through the involvement of the community, and more rigorous obedience with the appropriate legislatures, together with matters surrounding deficiency of fencing around grazing camps, unreported cases of stock theft and police corruption, unregistered and tampering with brand marks. stock theft reached extraordinary levels in LIM Province during 2001 and 2004.
The essence of livestock cannot be understated, because it represents the main source of family or individual wealth, social standing in the community, and a means to make capital to cover unforeseen emergencies for people residing in the villages (Mokale, 2006 KZN' was introduced before the realisation the effects caused by stock theft on people's pockets in this province and Cattle owners in the Kranskop area of KZN have been as well suffering these effects at the hands of stock thieves. Cattle owners barely sleep at night because of fear and worry that their Cattle will continue to be stolen, albeit the arrests were made by the Greytown SAPS STU, (Geldenhuys, 2012a, andGeldenhuys, 2012b).
Another intervention of preventing stock theft rests in the 'provincial' sphere, where the and Provincial Stock Theft Forum (PSTF) in all nine South African provinces to co-operate with the National Stock Theft Forum (NSTF) to prevent this crime in an organised manner. To this course, the disciplines under the Red Meat Procedures Organisations (RPO) are represented in the NSTF, they are responsible for the Secretariat of the NSTF and the provincial RPOs of most of the nine provinces is handle associated matters; this includes the all the affiliated procedures and DAFF disciplines Maré (2012).
Consequently, the processes and channels for addressing stock theft at community levels are supported by Geldenhuys (2010:39-41) by providing the preceding preventative measures, in line with the processes of addressing this crime effectively in South Africa: • Livestock owners' responsibility: To protect livestock from criminals, while focusing on a few basics of preventing this crime.
• Importance of proper fencing: Ensuring suitable sustenance of fences, patrolling and keeping all fences and gates in correct working order by livestock farmers to protect livestock.
• Marking of livestock: DAFF' strategy to curb stock theft also use The Animal Identification Act (No. 6 of 2002) to prescribes identification marks for tracing the owner as the initial line of defence against sock theft. Consequently, livestock are expected to be marked based on this Act.
• Regular counting of livestock: The livestock owners must try to count their animals regularly and keep an updated stock register to control of their livestock. •

Regular patrols serve as a deterrent:
Livestock owners must patrol paddocks regularly to serve as a deterrent to potential stock thieves.
• Know your employees: When livestock owners consider appointing new employees, the owner must locate the applicant's previous employers, and find out why they left their former jobs. to determine whether the applicant has a criminal record, and determine the nature of transgressions, enquiries can also be made at the SAPS.

•
Moving animals: Section 8 of the Stock Theft Act (No. 57 of 1959) indicate that no person shall transport, convey, nor relocate any livestock, or produce, if such individual is not entitled to or not the rightful owners, at any public road, unless otherwise possess the rightful documentation "removal certificate" given by the owner/manager of the livestock.
• The omnipresence of the police: Livestock owners must become involved in a farm watch system within their respective region. If such a system does not exist, it is a good idea to establish one. The police cannot be expected to protect everyone's property, and the community must help. A farm watch system ensures good communication, and regular, physical patrolling 24/7, deters stock theft.
Additionally; The local SAPS members are often asked what livestock owners could do to prevent stock theft. Apart from the tips already provided, livestock owners could also exercise the following measures: Keep Sheep in a Kraal, as close to the farmhouse as possible; Invest in proper guard dogs at the kraal; Keep ostriches (or geese, for noise) in paddocks, as it is known that they are a good deterrent against potential stock thieves; Avoid routine; and Have employees move around on the farm, and pay attention to irregularities, to inform the livestock owner of such irregularities, Geldenhuys (2010). Geldenhuys (2010) further opines that it is fundamental to have a healthy relationship between the SAPS, livestock owners, their employees. SAPS is expected to provide a professional service to the community concern, while on the other side, livestock owners are as well expected to play their role. By so doing, it can be convenient to prevent this crime. It is of paramount importance to solve and reduce the variety of crimes related to stock theft to present based on a global economic trends and capital incentives to obtain a sustainable, profitable and food security and the emotional effects it contains the agricultural community (NSTPF, 2019).
As a recourse; Maluleke (2018) avers that different technologies (As previously mentioned) and DNA technology was intended to revolutionise modern science and to intensify conventional approach to preventing this crime by operationalising the CJS. Nevertheless, most livestock farmers value the use of technology in preventing stock theft is imprecise. As an alternative, they return to conventional approaches like brand-marking and tattoos. These conventional methods have not offered an ongoing resolution to the peril of South African stock-theft.

METHODS AND MATERIALS
This study adopted exploratory and descriptive research designs, coupled with a qualitative research approach to purposively select participants to inspect and evaluate, the definite perceptions of the selected participants on prevention of stock theft to understand the current failures and successes. The study locations were confined to the selected areas of KZN (Ladysmith, Bulwer -Pietermaritzburg, and Utrecht -Newcastle) and in LIM Province [GPA: Giyani inner city, Xikukwana and Makosha villages (Ward 14) and in FGDs, in-depth interviews with KIIs, and stock theft courtroom observation schedules were exerted for collection of data.
The target groups comprised of the follows: Community Policing Forums (CPFs) managers (4:2 from each village -rural areas outside the city); Community members (12:6 from each village -Rural areas outside the city); Mopani District officials (2: Community Researcher and a Community Liaison Officer); FGDs 1: SAPS officers attached to the local police station (8 -take out from the inner city area); FGDs 2: leaders from the local Faith-Based Organisations [FBOs] (4:2 from each village); and FGDs 3:prominent local farmers (20:10 from each village -Rural areas outside the city). Natural Resource Management managers) (2); and Land and Infrastructure; Community Safety and Liaison Officer); and officials from Giyani Municipality (2: Occupational Health and Safety Officer; KIIs were steered in the inner city consisting of participants from the Giyani SAPS STU officers (7) For data analysis; the researchers frequently red the data to hold up the perception from the selected participants on this subject [Content Analysis -CA]. So, this was accomplished through generating hidden written transcripts of the participants' replies throughout KIIs and the FGDs to produce themes. The definite words articulated by the participants were written down verbatim (word-for-word) (Matlala, 2012).

STUDY FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS
These findings of this study are arranged in terms of the study objective, what the participants shared with the researchers was thematically presented in this section.

EXPLORING PERSPECTIVES ON STOCK THEFT PREVENTION IN THE SELECTED PROVINCES OF SOUTH AFRICA: FAILURES AND SUCCESSES
Insufficient coverage of the study objective was received. It was quite revealing to find that the existing preventative measures exerted in the LIM and UKZN designated regions by the livestock farmers, SAPS STUs and other appropriate stakeholders, with regarding stock theft are unsuccessful. This study discovered that these stakeholders do not possess an appropriate capability to answer regarding this crime. The participants share the same response by articulating that the SAPS STUs do not possess an aptitude to detect the challenges related to stock theft. It was also revealed SAPS STUs do not possess effective policies nor strategies to co-ordinate the prevention of stock theft in the designated areas.
The participants indicated that the SAPS STUs consist of distinct challenges that interfere with their police work. However, these Units consist of the of insufficient personnel; So, there is a necessity for additional personnel to be assigned to the SAPS Satellite Units if available, precisely in the identified rural areas of GPA, as well as to the main Giyani SAPS STUs. This, however, also apply to the identified KZN Province regions. There should be recruitment, or retained at the Community Service Centre (CSC) of officers involved in the local police stations, and the additional officers at the police station level. Thus, they should, initially, undertake training for stock theft investigation.
This arrangement can, therefore, render investigators an opportunity at the local police station level to become acquainted with all aspects, regarding the stock theft investigation. A latter from SAPS STUs officers must be provided where applicable. This as a results can ensure the constant principle of an integrated technique. it is of paramount important to consider the remoteness, and the presence of informants at all time. It was suggested that this should be frequently discussed between the local police station Commanders and the SAPS STUs Commanders.
It was, however, revealed that there is a need to work out how inadequate resources can proficiently be accomplished by the designated SAPS STUs. It seems that appropriate management is deficient to evaluate the available limited resources, and therefore, the unavailability of police vehicle as technical issue cannot be blamed to SAPS officials on the failure to engage stock theft operation. Noting that rural people resort to using alternative structures, such as the 'Livestock Forums, 'and CPFs. There is a need to monitor, capacitate and assess those systems, to check whether they have an impact on, and adhere to, the measures intended at the cabbing stock theft. CPFs have to be invigorated and should establish a healthy environment for sector policing. There is a necessity for a mass mobilisation of community structures, and community-based organisations, to partake in social crime prevention, and to capacitate them on m of social crime prevention.
The performance of the Magistrates' court in the selected areas of LIM and KZN Provinces are known, by disposing of cases of stock theft. The Magistrates' Courts' efficacy to manage cases of stock theft cases are dubiously influenced by lack of understanding on the colours that the local people are adapted to utilising the practices of livestock farming and traditional markings. Consequently, the 'Customary Courts' is quoted as best-suitable in managing stock theft cases, as 'Indunas [Chiefs]' imbedded the power to preside over such cases with well understandings on this crime, have a reflective knowledge on the cases of stock theft and of livestock and For a positive response; Knowledge Management (KM) should be implemented in the prevention of stock theft in South African rural communities, this should be undertaken as the first approach to combat stock theft  Table 2. It is very imperative to all livestock farmers; such as emerging, the stud, and commercial farmers from distinct regions to share their best practices within their respective jurisdictions and their operations should be integrated for the benefit of food security largely. This should be underpinned by capturing, creation, delivering and sharing of elusive information and knowledge among all livestock farmers. Therefore, the KM practices relate to the best practices to intensify the productivity of livestock farming, and to sustain the relationship to combat, protect and prevent stock theft and livestock health to be facilitated effectively by the appropriate stakeholders. It envisaged that if KM can be implemented positively by these relevant stakeholders with an intent to maximise the quality and efficiency of stock theft combating strategies across these South African, rural areas and selected areas of LIM and KZN; the use of the mentioned technologies and other available conventional methods can go a long way, this can also include animal identification techniques. This can enhance proper utilisation of this concept (KM) in terms of sharing and transferring best practices to prevent stock theft with the aid of the revolutionary collation of technologies, while addressing the existing complexities brought about by the conventional theftcombating strategies.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Generally, the purpose of this study was to collect data on, and determine, the perceptions on the combating of stock theft in the selected areas of LIM and KZN Provinces; therefore, detecting dissatisfactions and successes experienced in these areas, given their insufficient measures in dealing with stock theft in the surrounding areas. It is found that this crime remains a complete credit to families of the selected provinces, precisely in the rural villages generally the policing regions, and the entire municipalities. Yet, the capability of the livestock farmers, local police and the community members' response, to this crime is presently unsuccessful.
From the analysed data; it is evident that stock theft is rife in the selected areas of LIM and KZN Provinces, and the available preventive measures against stock theft in these regions are inadequate, therefore, there is an extended way to go to completely eradicate it. These inefficiencies should be corrected, and some other measures, which could be exerted as recommendations include: • Closer collaboration, interaction and information exchange: The Intelligence-led operations currently employed by the SAPS STUs need a radical, new approach, including nearer collaboration, interaction, and information conversation of the entire role-players in these provinces.
• Promoting greater awareness in the province and neighbouring countries: It is pivotal for the SAPS STUs in these provinces, to collaborate with the local SAPS, as well as the livestock forums, to promote greater stock theft risks and actions awareness. The community members' behaviour, livestock farmers, and other related stakeholders could be altered, to enable selfprotection, and assistance to alter the culture that accepts a certain level of stock theft crime in the selected rural communities.
This study revealed the dire need for the use of the combined methods (Technologies and conventional methods) to effectively prevent stock theft in the selected provinces of South Africa in the LIM and KZN Provinces specifically. The selected areas in these provinces were chosen as learning grounds, from which shortfalls and outcomes of previous methods employed to combat stock theft were used to inform current research works and to improve future works in the use of the identified methods. The consulted methods can be easily accessible by means of the establishment of effective partnerships between the CJS and other relevant stakeholders in this sector and also the use of communal intervention systems to break silo culture and isolation existing procedures to move into a collaborative approach towards stock theftcombating strategies. It is important to simultaneously establish mechanisms to transfer KM and share strategies, including the integration of conventional methods with available technologies, sharing the results of preliminary investigations to inform stakeholders of court procedures.