Poachers kill 31 cattle, Outjo farmers left reeling
Two farmers from the Outjo district, who had been searching for their missing cattle last week, were horrified to discover the gruesome scenes of two slaughter sites on the road between Outjo and Otavi on Thursday afternoon, where more than 30 cattle had been slaughtered.
The tendons of four surviving animals were severed, leaving the farmers no choice but to euthanise them as well, resulting in a total loss of 31 cattle.
The estimated financial loss from the cattle amounts to approximately N$372 000.
The Namibian Police's crime investigation coordinator for the Kunene Region, Deputy Commissioner Eric Clay, told Network Media Hub (NMH) that a syndicate is under investigation. He confirmed early on Saturday morning that four suspects had been arrested and a taxi had been seized.
“We have deployed a special investigation team on the ground and the investigation is ongoing,” he confirmed over the weekend.
Legal failures
Outjo district farmer Dakkie Anthonissen was one of the farmers at the scene.
“Nico Alberts was searching for his missing cattle on his neighbouring farm, Dagbreek, and came across the first slaughter site. Later, 18 cattle from Hendrik Boshoff’s farm were found on Dagbreek’s neighbouring farm, Glocke. Both farms belong to Iyambo Iyambo from Oshakati, who has also been severely affected by cattle theft,” Anthonissen said.
“The farms are located right next to the town and road, the fences are broken, and there is a clear path along the power line leading to the apparently old slaughter sites, which are about 150 metres from the main road,” he explained.
Anthonissen praised the exceptional cooperation between the farmers, community, neighbourhood watch and police, with Jaco Muller using his gyrocopter to assist in searching for the suspects from the air and Arthur Götz deploying his drone.
Johan Potgieter from the Outjo neighbourhood watch confirmed the collaboration. “About 70 people were at the scene, working through Thursday night. We tracked the suspects and went on foot around the mountains. Roadblocks were set up, and an operation was deployed," he said.
He argued, however, that while the police in the Kunene Region work hard to get cattle thieves and other criminals behind bars, the justice system poses hurdles, as cases are repeatedly thrown out and habitual criminals get bail time and again.
“There are several cases under a suspect’s name, but the case gets thrown out if the file is not in court. Or bail is easily granted, and in two weeks, we catch the same person again. Professional criminals are not put away.”
Against a rising tide
Potgieter said that between ten and twenty cattle carcasses are discovered almost daily in the Kunene area, which has recently been severely affected by the prolonged drought.
Farmers are working to rebuild their herds, only to be repeatedly targeted by cattle thieves, he added.
“We can no longer farm like normal. Every night, we have to herd our cattle into the pens. We have to count them like sheep, and people have to stand guard at the pens.
“We had to set up cameras at the pens, but they were also stolen,” he noted.
He said that in the current case, it is likely that familiar poachers will be arrested again. "We suspect the meat is being transported by car to Otjiwarongo," he added.
Professionals at work
Clay confirmed that cattle and game poaching are major issues in the Kunene Region.
Cattle theft is on the rise in Namibia, presenting significant economic, social and security challenges for rural communities and the agricultural sector. However, efforts to deter criminals appear to be ineffective.
This is according to the chairperson of the parliamentary standing committee on constitutional and legal affairs, Kletus Karondo, who recently tabled the motion on the report concerning the impact of cattle theft in Namibia in the National Assembly.
“Cattle theft affects commercial, communal and resettlement farms. The problem is deeply rooted in the socio-economic conditions of our people, although it seems to be syndicates that are active,” Karondo said.
According to the report, the highest prevalence of cattle theft in the country is found in the Otjozondjupa and Omaheke regions.
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The tendons of four surviving animals were severed, leaving the farmers no choice but to euthanise them as well, resulting in a total loss of 31 cattle.
The estimated financial loss from the cattle amounts to approximately N$372 000.
The Namibian Police's crime investigation coordinator for the Kunene Region, Deputy Commissioner Eric Clay, told Network Media Hub (NMH) that a syndicate is under investigation. He confirmed early on Saturday morning that four suspects had been arrested and a taxi had been seized.
“We have deployed a special investigation team on the ground and the investigation is ongoing,” he confirmed over the weekend.
Legal failures
Outjo district farmer Dakkie Anthonissen was one of the farmers at the scene.
“Nico Alberts was searching for his missing cattle on his neighbouring farm, Dagbreek, and came across the first slaughter site. Later, 18 cattle from Hendrik Boshoff’s farm were found on Dagbreek’s neighbouring farm, Glocke. Both farms belong to Iyambo Iyambo from Oshakati, who has also been severely affected by cattle theft,” Anthonissen said.
“The farms are located right next to the town and road, the fences are broken, and there is a clear path along the power line leading to the apparently old slaughter sites, which are about 150 metres from the main road,” he explained.
Anthonissen praised the exceptional cooperation between the farmers, community, neighbourhood watch and police, with Jaco Muller using his gyrocopter to assist in searching for the suspects from the air and Arthur Götz deploying his drone.
Johan Potgieter from the Outjo neighbourhood watch confirmed the collaboration. “About 70 people were at the scene, working through Thursday night. We tracked the suspects and went on foot around the mountains. Roadblocks were set up, and an operation was deployed," he said.
He argued, however, that while the police in the Kunene Region work hard to get cattle thieves and other criminals behind bars, the justice system poses hurdles, as cases are repeatedly thrown out and habitual criminals get bail time and again.
“There are several cases under a suspect’s name, but the case gets thrown out if the file is not in court. Or bail is easily granted, and in two weeks, we catch the same person again. Professional criminals are not put away.”
Against a rising tide
Potgieter said that between ten and twenty cattle carcasses are discovered almost daily in the Kunene area, which has recently been severely affected by the prolonged drought.
Farmers are working to rebuild their herds, only to be repeatedly targeted by cattle thieves, he added.
“We can no longer farm like normal. Every night, we have to herd our cattle into the pens. We have to count them like sheep, and people have to stand guard at the pens.
“We had to set up cameras at the pens, but they were also stolen,” he noted.
He said that in the current case, it is likely that familiar poachers will be arrested again. "We suspect the meat is being transported by car to Otjiwarongo," he added.
Professionals at work
Clay confirmed that cattle and game poaching are major issues in the Kunene Region.
Cattle theft is on the rise in Namibia, presenting significant economic, social and security challenges for rural communities and the agricultural sector. However, efforts to deter criminals appear to be ineffective.
This is according to the chairperson of the parliamentary standing committee on constitutional and legal affairs, Kletus Karondo, who recently tabled the motion on the report concerning the impact of cattle theft in Namibia in the National Assembly.
“Cattle theft affects commercial, communal and resettlement farms. The problem is deeply rooted in the socio-economic conditions of our people, although it seems to be syndicates that are active,” Karondo said.
According to the report, the highest prevalence of cattle theft in the country is found in the Otjozondjupa and Omaheke regions.
- [email protected]
Comments
Andreas Haufiku
So bad