LESOTHO AND SOUTH AFRICA MINISTERS DISCUSS STOCK THEFT

 

The Minister of Home Affairs Mr. Tom Thabane says Lesotho's Ministers of Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs together with their counterparts from South Africa have agreed to introduce one system of marking animals. Addressing a press conference held at his ministry on Tuesday 23 September,2002 Mr. Thabane said the implementation of the one animal marking system would help to eradicate cross border stock-theft, which he said is the concern of the two countries.

Mr. Thabane said this was resolved at a meeting that was held in South Africa on Monday, where it was suggested that a new system of marking called micro cheap be introduced as a more advanced method of animal marking. He further said it was agreed that relevant measures be taken against stock theft perpetrators in both countries, as it seems that there is a link between local and South African perpetrators. He said it was also resolved that the ministers involved from both
countries should engage in a tour along the borders, while the intelligence sections of the two countries would also be urged to strengthen their efforts in crime prevention.

Meanwhile Mr. Thabane said ministers responsible for Police affairs in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region have also agreed on the extradition of criminals so that legal action can be taken against them. He said this  was resolved at the Ministers and Police Commissioners conference that was held in Zimbabwe last week, adding that the resolution was made after noticing that some people commit crime in their countries and consequently abscond to other countries.

He noted that the conference also agreed to introduce a clearance certificate for vehicles in SADC as a way of eradicating the high rate of vehicle theft in the region.
Mr. Thabane pointed out that the issue of improving the standard of Policing within the region has also been a point of consideration at the conference. The conference is held annually with the aim of discussing ways of eradicating crime within the region.

24 September,2002

  SOURCE: LENA