Komatipoort — Farmers in Mpumalanga will have to be extra vigilant over the festive season in preparation for an expected surge in cross border stock.

Police warned on Monday that well-organised syndicates targeted farmers in South Africa's border regions to feed increased demand for meat in Mozambique for Christmas and New Year's celebrations.

Tonga police spokesman Captain Paulos Mabunda added that cattle, sheep and other stock were also stolen for sale to local Mpumalanga butcheries.

"So we have to deal with the international syndicates and also with the local cattle thieves," he explained.

Police and army personnel from South Africa and Mozambique have joined forces to curb the thefts but still face the ongoing problem of insufficient resources to catch the highly organised and professional syndicates.

South African National Defence Force (SANDF) commanding officer of Group 33 Colonel Hein Visser said: "This is a frustrating exercise because soldiers patrolling the fence between the two countries can't be in all areas at the same time.

"These people are professionals and need only five minutes to cross with the stolen cattle," he explained.

Army personnel patrolling the Lebombo border complain of insufficient resources like manpower and vehicles making it difficult to cover the whole area.

"The syndicates observe our troops and wait for them to be deployed before making their move," said Visser.

The inaccessibility of the area also benefits stock thieves.

"The area is mountainous and its terrain makes it difficult for the patrollers to reach the scene of crime on time," said Visser.

Police were unable to release figures but confirmed that cross border theft increases over the festive season. - African Eye News Service