Stock theft ‘out of control’ in Aranos

With stock theft and drug smuggling said to be rife in Aranos, farmers and community members have handed a petition, along with a list of 18 unresolved case numbers, to the head of the Namibian Police.

"If many cases remain unsolved, then we are failing in our duties," Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo admitted last Wednesday during a crime meeting in the southern town, with a particular focus on stock theft.

“Today is my meeting with the community. Today I want to hear your problems,” Shikongo said.

The meeting, organised by farmer Dirk Kotze and the local farmers’ association, was prompted by dissatisfaction over what residents describe as the police's failure in Aranos and the wider Hardap region to properly investigate and resolve cases.

Kotze handed the list of unresolved cases and the petition to Shikongo during the meeting, held in the sweltering St Andrew's Rooms Catholic Church hall in the Rooiduin residential area.

The petition specifically objects to bail being granted to police officers Jakobus Kharuchab, Melchior Mongake and Fritz Ersterhuizen.

The trio were arrested on 30 January on charges of stock theft, the unlawful possession of meat and contravening anti-corruption laws for abuse of office. Esterhuizen faces an additional charge of reckless driving.

The case reportedly stemmed from an accident two days earlier, when the accused allegedly struck a kudu with a police vehicle and was later found in possession of a sheep carcass and two bags of offal.

They allegedly obtained the meat, valued at about N$2 000, from a farmworker on a farm roughly 15 km outside the town, without the knowledge of the farm owner.

They were each granted bail of N$1 000 on Monday 2 February after police officers from Mariental reportedly informed the public prosecutor that the farm owner had not laid a charge.

Kotze, however, insists that the farm owner, Arno van Zyl, did file a complaint in Mariental because of his suspicions of collusion at the Aranos police station.

Here’s a tightened, BBC-style edit for clarity, readability, and reportage tone:

The case in the Aranos Magistrate’s Court is set to resume on 1 June.

Cold cases

Another frustrated victim, Eduard Herbert, spoke at the meeting about an unresolved sheep slaughtering case on his farm in 2023. The suspect is currently out on bail, while a key witness has since died.

According to outspoken community member Lukas Veldskoen, up to 1 900 commercial farmers, along with communal farmers and livestock owners in the town area, are affected by rising stock theft.

“Stock theft is out of control. Why is there no dedicated stock theft unit at the Aranos police station?” he asked.

“The demand for police services is increasing, and people expect a quick response. Three vehicles for Aranos are simply too few,” he said, pointing to a dire lack of police vehicles.

13 officers arrested nationwide

“It is unprofessional to tell community members we do not have vehicles available," Shikongo said at the meeting. "Rather take the number and address and say it will receive attention, or speak to the station commander who has the responsibility to look for other vehicles.”

The police chief confirmed that a total of 13 police officers have been arrested nationwide between January and mid-February on charges of stock theft, robbery and possession of drugs.

“Some of them are still in custody after we told them not to apply for bail,” he added.

Shikongo stressed that police officers must be fit and proper for service and warned he has the authority to dismiss.

“Sometimes our officers here are also the cause of problems, especially when they do not properly open cases,” he acknowledged.

He said it is a concern when people visit police stations and find officers on Facebook on their mobile phones instead of providing service.

“Police officers must be available,” he emphasised.

Other issues raised included the harassment of people in corridors between farms and a rise in drug-related crime in the town.

“Local police officers are in the pockets of the drug dealers,” Veldskoen alleged.

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