Upon realising a rise in cattle rustling in 2018, the Botswana Police Service (BPS) launched anti-cattle theft campaigns to curb the scourge. According to the police, stock theft in the Central District especially in Mahalapye, Palapye and Tswapong areas is on the rise as evidenced by the string of arrests made public by the police through their Facebook page as a way of sending a clear message to stock theft syndicates. Despite the daily airings of the arrests on the police Facebook page, the message seems to be falling on deaf ears as more arrests of stock theft criminals who most of the times are caught red-handed with meat or cattle are a daily occurrence. Stock theft has become rampant and difficult to contain. The crime has left many farmers empty-handed, especially rural communities that largely depend on rearing livestock for a living. The Kgomokhumo operation is expected to provide a panacea to the troubles faced by the villagers.
The BPS said the criminals are well-organised with proper organisational structures just like regular companies with employers and employees. In their crackdown on stock theft syndicates, Kgomokhumo operatives recently apprehended butchery owners and street vendors with suspected stolen carcasses. The BPS public relations officer, Assistant Commissioner Dipheko Motube said at the beginning of the operation they aimed at identifying stock theft syndicates and their market and they have since achieved that as evidenced by the string of arrests. He stated that since they started the operation in the area, they have arrested 66 people involving 58 livestock, mostly cattle. He said 12 people have already been convicted and are serving prison terms ranging between five to 12 years with more cases still before courts. “Some cases are still ongoing with suspects still on bail while others are still in custody. We have started to deliver on our objectives and it is evident as we continue to arrest more suspects; have identified and we continue to dismantle stock theft syndicates and take them before court,” he said.
