BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
MBABANE – The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) has urged farmers and rural communities to remain vigilant as investigations continue into stock theft cases in Bhunya and Manzini, highlighting the ongoing threat to livestock and farmers’ livelihoods.
In Bhunya, police are investigating a case reported on December 10, 2025, by a 59-year-old man from the Mpuluzi area. According to police, the man woke up at about 0500 hours on Wednesday morning to find his herd of eight cattle missing.
The farmer reportedly followed tracks around his property and concluded that the animals had been stolen and driven across the border into neighbouring South Africa. The stolen cattle are valued at E65 000. Police noted that the victim’s homestead is less than two kilometres from the border, a factor believed to have been exploited by the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, Manzini police are probing a separate stock theft case involving twelve goats stolen from a grazing land in the Lwandle area. The theft was discovered on September 9, 2025, at about 0900 hours. The goats, valued at E27 500, were taken by unknown suspects while left unattended.
Investigations into both cases are ongoing, and no arrests have been made so far.
REPS has expressed concern over the rise in livestock theft, particularly in border and rural areas where animals are often left grazing unsupervised. Police are urging farmers to take proactive measures to secure their livestock.
Farmers are advised to avoid leaving livestock unattended for long periods. Those who keep animals in kraals should ensure that the structures are secure, not easily accessible, and ideally placed in well-lit areas to deter thieves.
The police have also called on communities to work closely with authorities by reporting any suspicious activity at the nearest police station. REPS emphasized that cooperation between law enforcement and communities is vital in preventing stock theft and protecting farmers’ livelihoods.
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