Combating Stock Theft with Deoxyribonucleic Acid Samples and Innovative Technology in South Africa

Abstract

Stock theft strips the South African economy of a great deal of money. This scourge threatens both the commercial and emergent farming sectors. The goats, sheep and cattle losses amount to millions of rands in Eastern Cape (EC), Limpopo (LIM) and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Provinces, which in 2021 were touted as the top Ten (10) hot spot police stations. As a recourse, the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) samples are used as an important forensic evidential tool to resolve this crime and ensure accuracy and fairness in the Criminal Justice System (CJS). Equally, the Mobile Telephone Network (MTN) (The South African cellular service provider) and Huawei Technologies collaborated to launch the ‘connected animal solution-Internet of Things (IoT),’ a digitised innovation, which allows livestock farmers to improve their animal management and health screening through activity and movement-monitoring and related analysis. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the combating of stock theft with DNA samples and innovative technology (IoT), in this regard, focusing on the selected areas of KZN Province. From a qualitative standpoint, empirical research, documentary studies, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interview (KIIs) were adopted as data collection methods. The collected data was analysed employing the inductive Thematic Content Analysis (TCA). This paper found that the indicated nexus can adequately aid in evidence gathering relating to identification by DNA characteristics (I.e. Typing and sample usage), ownership (I.e. Kingship identification), paternity testing, management and monitoring of livestock movements, potential danger minimisation, tracking of straying livestock, improving efficiency and reduction of costs. It is recommended that livestock farmers should exercise their actionable educational insights regarding the effective use of the DNA samples and IoT by exercising physical matching of ear notches and brands, providing specific descriptions, and verifying their near real-time visibility in varying periods.