KZN police say tackling stock theft features in plan to curb crime in province

KwaZulu-Natal police said tackling stock theft features in its plan to curb crime in the province.

Rural communities are worst affected by stock theft, where cattle are often stolen and sold on the black market.

ALSO READ: KZN Safer Festive Season: Cops ready to retaliate in face of non-cooperation

Provincial Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi unveiled the South African Police Service (SAPS)’s plan for the safety season in Durban on Thursday.

Mkhwanazi said stock theft is prevalent in the province especially during festive season period.

“Stock theft is usually on the rise during this period, so stock thieves make a fortune during this period, and we see their market increasing.”

EWN understands that in many cases, stolen stock is slaughtered and sold to local butcheries.

Some stock is sold to people hosting gatherings.

Mkhwanazi has warned police will not tolerate the use of stolen meat during ceremonies, especially ahead of the festive season.

"Police will seize all the meat at the ceremonies. If we arrive at your ceremony and we find that there’s some cattle that has been slaughtered that don’t belong to that family and you can’t produce documents of where you got it from, we will empty those pots and we will take everything."

KZN's top cop has vowed to crack this syndicate.

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