Farmers lead fight against stock theft in Mahalapye
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday May 26, 2026 10:43
Mahalapye Central Police Station acting commander, Assistant Superintendent Malakia Gabana, said the situation has improved significantly following efforts to strengthen farmers' committees across the district.
Gabana explained that the committees have been working tirelessly to combat stock theft by educating farmers on the importance of taking responsibility for the welfare and security of their livestock.
'In the past, many farmers abandoned their livestock at cattle posts and left all the responsibility to herdsmen, some of whom were not adequately looking after the animals,' he said.
He noted that since farmers' committees became more active, stock theft cases have declined considerably and are now manageable.
'Our farmers' committees are doing a great job. Since they became fully involved, stock theft cases have become manageable and are no longer the serious problem they were a few months ago, when stock thieves sought to impoverish farmers through relentless theft,' Gabana said.
According to Gabana, police encouraged farmers to form committees on the understanding that no one has a greater interest in protecting livestock than the owners themselves.
He said it was common for some farmers to spend months without visiting their cattle posts, leaving them unaware of the exact number and condition of their animals.
'Farmers' negligence contributed to the problem. Some herdsmen ended up collaborating with stock theft syndicates that were terrorising the area. In some cases, herdsmen even branded livestock for themselves because farmers spent most of their time in towns and cities and rarely monitored their cattle posts,' he said.
Gabana stressed that regular visits to cattle posts, proper record-keeping, and close supervision of herdsmen are critical in preventing stock theft. He added that continued cooperation between police and farmers remains essential in ensuring that criminals do not regain a foothold in the area.
He commended farmers who have embraced the committees, saying their collective efforts have played a key role in safeguarding livelihoods and protecting the livestock industry in the Mahalapye area.