AfriForum and Saai Call on Interpol to Ramp Up Efforts Against Cross-Border Stock Theft

The civil rights organization, AfriForum, along with the Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai), have made an impassioned plea to Interpol for immediate and intensified intervention in the battle against the burgeoning threat of cross-border stock theft between South Africa and Lesotho. This comes in the wake of what has been described as an untenable escalation in both the frequency and violence of these incidents, deeply impacting the rural farming communities that straddle the international border.

In a letter directly addressing Jürgen Stock, the Secretary-General of Interpol, dated 29 August, AfriForum and Saai set out a grim picture of the situation. They detailed how the criminal syndicates, allegedly responsible for a series of bold and often violent thefts, continue to operate with relative freedom, leaving a trail of economic devastation and human casualties in their wake.

According to Jacques Broodryk of AfriForum, the fear within the farming community has reached a feverish pitch, with the current state of affairs threatening to undermine not just the economy but the social fabric of these regional societies. The frequently reported incidents of stock theft, which had previously been a focus of Interpol's efforts, seem to have grown in both extent and audacity.

The organizations demand that Interpol undertake a thorough review of the scale and mechanisms of these syndicates, to better understand and ultimately disrupt their operations. They insist that Interpol must bolster regional law enforcement with the necessary tools and support to curb such illegitimate and harmful activities.

This call for action emphasizes the necessity for bolstered police and military responses, admitting that the current resources and responses have been largely inadequate. AfriForum and Saai stress the importance of reinforced collaboration between South African and Lesotho authorities to mount a unified front against these cross-border criminals.

With livestock farming playing a pivotal role in the region's economy and food security, the organizations highlight the critical need for a stable and protected agricultural sector. The letter closes with a request for concrete plans and timelines from Interpol on the implementation of measures to tackle these problems, as well as a commitment to regular progress updates.