• Crime

Farmers furious over huge losses

- 2023-05-03 09:51:00

Farmers north of Okahandja are about to implement an advanced security system with, among other things, "intelligent cameras" to try to combat the serious crime rates on farms in the area.
This comes after members of the Okahandja Crime Prevention Association (OCPA) lost about N$4.96 million due to theft over the past year. A total of 60 cattle, two giraffes, more than 100 heads of game, six rhinos, 20 solar pumps and two house burglaries occurred in the area.
Dickie Kotzé maintains the crime statistics for the association. He says they are experiencing the worst problems on farms along the B1 route between Okahandja and Otjiwarongo yet. He says farmers also spend a lot to repair infrastructure, such as solar pumps after thieves break in and steal them.
OCPA takes the lead
OCPA chairman, Andrew Deacon, who himself farms along the B1 route and has lost 11 oryx, four eland and two giraffes since December, says the security infrastructure alone has cost the association more than N$2 million. In addition, they spend around N$70 000 every month on security guards. They have a response force that patrols the area and responds to incidents in the area. They are also in the process of trying to train and register more reservists.
"I think we will now have the most advanced security system in the country. We have 18 points and 27 cameras. It covers an area of about 80 km by 100 km as well as all entrances and T-junctions," Deacon told this publication.
"All the cameras are connected and will monitor the movements of motorists with the help of computer programmes as well as the recognition of car registration numbers," says Deacon.
"If a car takes a long time to move through an area or makes U-turns, the association will receive a report. Known thugs will be blacklisted and the moment they enter the area, OCPA will know about it," he added.
Deacon explained that the security system covers a large area north of Okahandja and that up to 80% of the landowners in the area have bought into the project. "This is the key to our success, because to have so much money available, you need many members," he said.
He said the first meeting already took place in April last year, while it became operational in June last year.
"We established an independent association registered as a neighbourhood watch, wrote our constitution and members pay monthly contributions," said Deacon.
He said that as part of the financing of the project, loans were also made to banks and farmers.
Deacon said that cameras that were previously installed on regional roads in the area worked as a deterrent, but drove criminals' activities to the B1 main route.
"This is their modus operandi - if one area starts to act proactively against crime, they just move their operations a little further," he said. "If we get them out of here, nearby or adjacent areas are likely to be targeted. However, we regularly communicate with surrounding areas and share information among ourselves,” said Deacon.
What farmers say
Bossie Coetzer, a farmer from the area, told this publication that this move comes after theft in the area - in his opinion - has at least tripled in recent times.
He has been robbed five times in the past year and he has lost solar pumps and cattle - so much so that insurance companies are now showing him the door.
Coetzer says this comes despite the police's support. "The police no longer know which way to turn," he says.
He believes that bail is granted to criminals again and again and they just come to steal again. He believes that the criminals are highly organised.