Farmers warned about hunting with dogs and robbery of livestock. Amidst the many challenges that farmers face, like the drought and stock theft, they now also face the risks of illegal hunting with dogs on farms and in some cases robbery of livestock. Illegal hunting of dogs mostly occur over weekends. Suspects sometimes also use this practice for stock theft. They will use the dogs to attack cattle, and while the cattle are trying to fend of the dogs, the suspects steal calves. This theft has been covered up by packing porcupine carcasses in the top of bags, so that farmers or the Police do not search bags further.
Incidents of illegal hunting with dogs have increased alarmingly in the province, with a farmer from Steynsrus who has lost game to the value of R220 000 because of dogs killing animals. The farmer is fed-up with illegal hunting, as it takes place on his land almost every weekend. This past weekend several incidents were reported to the VKB/FSA Safety Desk at Heilbron, Edenville, and Arlington. The Rural Safety Plan was activated on Sunday, 16 October 2016, when suspects targeted a farm with about 30 dogs in the Heilbron district. Farmers arrested seven suspects who were caught with the dogs in a camp where six stud bulls are kept. Two others were caught red-handed while they were ransacking a nearby house. The dogs killed an ostrich and several rabbits.
Farmers made civil arrests, and the farmers had to guard the suspects while the police transported the suspects and dogs in batches to the local police station. Tommie Esterhuyse, chairperson of Free State Agriculture’s (FSA) Law and Order Committee, wants to thank every farmer who reacted on the call, as well as the police for their speedy reaction. Another incident was reported at Arlington. Since the start of October, incidents were also reported at Bothaville and Hoopstad.
Hunting with dogs is a crime. The desk would like to highlight that hunting with dogs on a farmer’s land is a crime. Such suspects are committing an offence, and they contravene and disregard the farm access protocol as signed by several organizations and the SAPS. They deny the farmer’s right to defend his property against unlawful entry or damage.
The SAPS has sent out a provincial instruction about the issue and how all police officials should handle the issue. Esterhuyse encourages farmers to study the instruction and make it available to police officials to ensure that suspects are prosecuted correctly. The instruction is available here.
Furthermore, Esterhuyse and the desk would like to encourage farmers to activate the local safety structure when they become aware of such activities on their farms. Do not confront the suspects alone. There have been incidents were farmers were falsely accused of pointing a firearm or intimidation when they confiscate such dogs. Some farmer’s lives have also been threatened. The suspects are described as extremely arrogant, and it is better to have witnesses present to stop their activities.
The seriousness of the issue has been brought under the attention of the police several times. The desk has also reported complaints of alleged involvement of police officials in such activities or ignorance of the seriousness of such incidents to the police’s top management. Consequently, some clusters are on high alert for such incidents.
Robbery of livestock. Meanwhile, the desk and FSA would like to warn farmers about robbery of livestock. This follows after a farm worker and his wife were attacked on Wednesday, 12 October 2016, at the farm Sambokfontein between Reitz and Tweeling. The suspects stole 12 calves, 24 cows, and 2 bulls. According to information reported to the desk, five suspicious men were dropped off on the farm late afternoon. It is suspected that they then gathered the livestock, after which they attacked the couple and tied them up. After this a truck arrived on the scene, the animals were loaded and the suspects fled the scene.
Esterhuyse requests farmers to be vigilant, and to alert their local safety structures when they come across any suspicious individuals on their farms or in their areas. No loss of life was recorded during this incident. The livestock is still missing, and the suspects are still at large.
For more information, contact: Tommie Esterhuyse at 082 782 0668, Alani Janeke at 051 4444 609
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