Farmers call for harsher penalties after calf speared to death
The Omaruru Farmers Association has called for urgent legislative reform following a brutal livestock theft incident in which a calf was found impaled by a spear at Farm Klein Okombahe near Omaruru.
The animal later died from its injuries.
In a statement issued last Wednesday, the association confirmed that Albert and Almut Koch discovered the injured calf dragging itself towards the kraal with a spear lodged through its body. Despite attempts to save it, the calf died shortly after the weapon was removed.
Markus Trede, vice-chairman of the Omaruru Boerevereniging, said the incident underlined the increasing brutality and frequency of rural crime.
“It is dramatic how stock theft and poaching continue to increase and what brutal forms it takes,” he said. “Today’s disturbing images show once again that the criminals are not only causing considerable financial damage but also seem to have no respect for animals at all.”
Trede said such incidents are not isolated and reflect a broader pattern of violence by poachers, including the use of snares, leghold traps and dogs.
“We have known for a long time that our cattle are killed with spears, but this video makes the suffering of the animals even clearer,” he stressed.
He warned that without decisive government action, rural farming as a viable sector could collapse.
“If nothing is done in the near future, in a few years there will be no more cattle and game farms and thousands of jobs will be lost,” he noted.
The farmers’ association has called on the government to introduce tougher criminal penalties, reform rural policing and engage directly with farming communities to find solutions.
“It is not enough just to talk and make plans. Criminal laws need to be changed and tightened... law enforcement institutions need to be fundamentally reformed,” Trede emphasised.
When approached for comment, Erongo police spokesperson Senior Inspector Judith Shomongula said the police were aware of the incident.
"No formal report was made yet by the farmer. However, we are busy following up, and the report will be shared with you when it is available," she said.
The animal later died from its injuries.
In a statement issued last Wednesday, the association confirmed that Albert and Almut Koch discovered the injured calf dragging itself towards the kraal with a spear lodged through its body. Despite attempts to save it, the calf died shortly after the weapon was removed.
Markus Trede, vice-chairman of the Omaruru Boerevereniging, said the incident underlined the increasing brutality and frequency of rural crime.
“It is dramatic how stock theft and poaching continue to increase and what brutal forms it takes,” he said. “Today’s disturbing images show once again that the criminals are not only causing considerable financial damage but also seem to have no respect for animals at all.”
Trede said such incidents are not isolated and reflect a broader pattern of violence by poachers, including the use of snares, leghold traps and dogs.
“We have known for a long time that our cattle are killed with spears, but this video makes the suffering of the animals even clearer,” he stressed.
He warned that without decisive government action, rural farming as a viable sector could collapse.
“If nothing is done in the near future, in a few years there will be no more cattle and game farms and thousands of jobs will be lost,” he noted.
The farmers’ association has called on the government to introduce tougher criminal penalties, reform rural policing and engage directly with farming communities to find solutions.
“It is not enough just to talk and make plans. Criminal laws need to be changed and tightened... law enforcement institutions need to be fundamentally reformed,” Trede emphasised.
When approached for comment, Erongo police spokesperson Senior Inspector Judith Shomongula said the police were aware of the incident.
"No formal report was made yet by the farmer. However, we are busy following up, and the report will be shared with you when it is available," she said.
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