The integration of conventional and technological methods in combating stock theft by selected stakeholders in the Kwazulu-Natal province

Different technologies can be adopted in combating stock theft, and these strategies are becoming increasingly valuable to the operationalisation of the South African Criminal Justice System (CJS). However, the value of using technology in combating stock theft is vague to most livestock farmers. In...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Maluleke, Witness (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: [2018]
In: Acta criminologica
Year: 2018, Volume: 31, Issue: 4, Pages: 123-146
Online Access: Volltext (Publisher)
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Keywords:
Combating stocktheft;, , and
Conventional methods
KwaZulu-Natal province
Technological methods
South African Police
Stock Theft Units
Stock thefts
Description
Summary:Different technologies can be adopted in combating stock theft, and these strategies are becoming increasingly valuable to the operationalisation of the South African Criminal Justice System (CJS). However, the value of using technology in combating stock theft is vague to most livestock farmers. Instead, they revert to conventional methods, such as brand-marking and tattooing. These conventional techniques have not really proffered an enduring solution to the menace of stock-theft in South Africa. From a qualitative standpoint, this article provides academic discourse on robust conventional and technological techniques to be adopted as durable solutions to this age-long phenomenon (stock theft) in selected areas of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province. Information is also drawn from existing legislative frameworks on stock theft in the country, including the Stock Theft Act (No. 57 of 1959) and Animal Identification Act (No. 6 of 2002). Primary findings indicate that the value of using the available methods (conventional and technological) in combating stock theft by selected stakeholders is not clear to most participants. This article suggests that an integration of conventional methods and various technologies in combating this scourge will provide a significant contribution to ensuring the safety and protection of livestock in South African communities, KwaZulu-Natal included.
ISSN:1012-8093