Livestock Theft in SA, How big Is The Crisis?
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Guest - Wandile Sihlobo, Chief Economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz)
Livestock theft may not always make the headlines, but it is a growing crisis for South Africa’s farmers. Statistics South Africa’s latest survey reveals the staggering scale of the problem: more than 61,000 goats, 38,000 cattle, and 36,000 poultry were stolen in 2024/25 alone. Beyond the numbers, the impact is devastating from driving up security costs for commercial farmers to pushing smallholder and new entrant farmers to the brink of collapse.
Livestock theft may not always make the headlines, but it is a growing crisis for South Africa’s farmers. Statistics South Africa’s latest survey reveals the staggering scale of the problem: more than 61,000 goats, 38,000 cattle, and 36,000 poultry were stolen in 2024/25 alone. Beyond the numbers, the impact is devastating from driving up security costs for commercial farmers to pushing smallholder and new entrant farmers to the brink of collapse.
