(Archive photo: Google Gemini)
An employee of the Standerton livestock theft unit, who was arrested for livestock theft in August last year, was apparently dismissed from the police “in dishonor” this week.
Hennie Bekker, AfriForum’s regional coordinator for the Mpumalanga Highveld, says const. Siyabonga Cindi is accused of stealing almost R450 000 worth of cattle in the Standerton, Greylingstad and Perdekop area.
Cindi appeared in court for the first time on 2 September and again in March after he is believed to be connected to more incidents of livestock theft.
Bekker welcomed Cindi’s dismissal and considers it a positive step “to root out criminality in regard to livestock theft in the police”.
“It is tragic that the very individuals who are supposed to protect farmers from this crime are also involved in cattle theft – it’s like turning a wolf into a shepherd,” says Bekker.
He emphasizes that the latest crime statistics which state that there is a 9.8% decrease in the number of livestock theft cases – if the fourth quarter of 2025/2026 is compared with the corresponding quarter in 2024/2025 – do not reflect the serious scope and financial implication of this crime.
(Argieffoto: www.harvestsa)
In the 2025/2026 financial year, according to the police’s crime statistics, a total of 23,251 livestock theft cases were reported in which a total of 72,709 sheep, 50,805 goats, 49,775 cattle as well as smaller quantities of chickens, pigs, donkeys, game and horses were stolen.
Bekker maintains that the true extent of livestock theft is much higher due to under-reporting of the crime, as farmers’ confidence in the livestock theft units has reached a low point.
“Conservatively estimated, the direct loss due to the theft of cattle, sheep and goats is currently approximately R15 000, R2 500 and R3 000 per animal respectively. This brings the total loss to the agricultural sector for the 2025/2026 financial year due to the theft of these animals to at least R1 billion.”
He believes livestock theft is no longer just a small-scale opportunistic crime.
“This has now transformed into a sophisticated crime in which syndicates and even police members are allegedly involved – as in the case of Cindi. Farmers are currently under enormous pressure due to, among other things, the foot-and-mouth crisis and rising fuel prices.”
Bekker further says that the additional loss due to the theft of livestock or input costs to try to prevent the theft puts even more pressure on a sector that has to feed the country’s people.
“Renewed zeal and political will to combat this crime is therefore in the interest of the agricultural industry and every citizen in the country,” says Bekker.
Meanwhile, AfriForum encourages farmers to continue to report livestock theft to the police to ensure that a more accurate picture of the extent of this crime is obtained.