More than 43,000 livestock animals were reported stolen across South Africa between January and March 2026, according to the latest fourth quarter crime statistics released by the South African Police Service.
The figures show that sheep, goats and cattle remain the most targeted livestock categories, placing increasing pressure on farmers, and emerging agricultural businesses already facing rising operational costs.
From January to March 2026, police recorded the theft of 16,816 sheep, making sheep the most stolen livestock category in the country during the quarter. This was followed by 11,403 goats and 10,449 cattle.
Other reported livestock theft cases included 3,567 poultry, 306 pigs, 266 game animals, 153 horses, 120 donkeys or mules, and five ostriches.
However, the official figures may not reflect the full scale of the crisis, as some stock theft incidents in rural areas often go unreported due to inaccessible police stations and low confidence in the justice system.
Speaking at the release of the fourth-quarter crime statistics last Friday, Firoz Cachalia, the Acting Minister of Police, said the figures should not be interpreted as mere statistics.
He said the statistics represent “not just numbers”, adding that behind every case is “a traumatised victim, a distraught family, a community living in fear”.
Farmers face severe income losses
The impact of livestock theft on farmers and rural livelihoods is concerning.
Chairperson of the National Stock Theft Prevention Forum (NSPF), Louis Wessels, said livestock theft is having a direct financial impact on farmers, particularly small-scale producers.
He warned that collaboration between livestock owners and authorities is critical in addressing the growing problem.
“You can imagine when an individual has only 10 cows, and five are stolen, it is a 50% loss of income,” Wessel said.
“Farmers have different experiences when it comes to livestock theft,” he said.
Industry groups warn that livestock theft not only threatens food security and rural livelihoods but also adds financial pressure on farming businesses struggling with market conditions.
“We don’t have to wait until the point when farmers will no longer see profits or be unable to continue doing business,” he said.
Although the Eastern Cape remains one of South Africa’s most affected provinces for stock theft, the latest figures show an overall decline. Between January and March 2025, the province recorded 1,628 stock theft cases. This dropped to 1,482 cases in the same period in 2026, a decrease of 146 cases, which is 9.8%.
KwaZulu-Natal has emerged as the province with the highest share of stock theft cases nationally. Between January and March 2025, it recorded 1,188 cases. This increased to 1,204 cases in the first quarter of 2026, a rise of 16 cases, making 1.3%. The province now accounts for 23.5% of all stock theft cases in the country, leading hotspot for livestock-related crime.
