36/1/4/1/201200005
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 7
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 17 FEBRUARY 2012
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 1- 2012)
Date reply submitted: 06 March 2012
7. Mr R A Lees (DA-KZN) to ask the Minister of Police:
(1) How many incidents of (a) stock theft and (b) farm attacks were
reported in the Free State (i) in the (aa) 2009-10 and (bb) 2010-11
financial years and (ii) from 1 April 2011 up to the latest
specified date for which information is available;
(2) (a) what types of farm stock were involved, (b) how many of each type
of farm stock were involved, (c) how many convictions have there
been and (d) what stock has been recovered in respect of these
incidents?
CW7E
REPLY:
(1)(a)(i)(aa) 5038 incidents of stock theft reported
(1)(a)(i)(bb) 4652 incidents of stock theft reported
(1)(a)(ii) 3738 incidents of stock theft were reported up until 31
December 2011.
(1)(b) Statistics on the number of farms attacks are not stored and
released as special statistics and are part of the general contact
crime statistics.
However, the South African Police Service, Divisions: Visible
Policing and Crime Intelligence, monitors all incidents of violence
against persons residing on farms and small holdings in rural areas
on a daily basis. Weekly incident analysis meetings, involving all
stake holders, take place to discuss these incidents to determine
flash points, particular crime trends, modus operandi employed by
criminals involved and other matters related to rural safety and
security. This operational information forms the basis for
presentations to the quarterly National Rural Safety Priority
Committee meetings which is inter alia attended by organised
agriculture and farming unions (NAFU, AGRI SA and TAY SA). When it
is noted that incidents in an area increased the relevant Provincial
Commissioners are sensitised and instructed to ensure that
preventative measures are being taken to prevent such incidents.
(ii) The crime statistics are released annually after auditing and
so crime statistics since 31 March 2011 will only be released later
this year.
(2)(a) Cattle, sheep and goats were involved.
(2)(b) The following totals of farm stock were involved:
2009/2010 : Cattle = 8863
Sheep = 24585
Goats = 1423
2010/2011 : Cattle = 8861
Sheep = 28684
Goats = 1480
1 April â 31 December 2011 : Cattle = 6555
Sheep = 21465
Goats = 2816
(2)(c) 263 convictions in the 2009/2010 financial year, 269
convictions in the 2010/2011 financial year and 141 convictions
from 1 April to 31 December 2011.
(2)(d) The following stock have been recovered:
2009/2010 : Cattle = 2586
Sheep = 5631
Goats = 510
2010/2011 : Cattle = 2906
Sheep = 6149
Goats = 240
1 April â 31 December 2011 : Cattle = 1977
Sheep = 5131
Goats = 730
Reply to question 7 approved by the Minister