Vrystaat Landbou (VL) het sy kommer uitgespreek oor die toename in saaddiefstal wat sedert September 2025 vanaf plase in die Vrystaat plaasvind.

Volgens dr Jane Buys, Veiligheid risiko-analis, is areas wat alreeds geteiken is onder meer Reitz, Ventersburg, Viljoenskroon en Wesselsbron. Mielie- en sonneblomsaad waarvan die waarde miljoene rande beloop, is vanaf plase gesteel en met voertuie na sekere afsetgebiede vervoer.

“Die diefstal van saad gaan ‘n enorme impak op boere se boerderypraktyke hê, veral tov van hul opbrengste asook op voedselsekuriteit”, meen Jakkals le Roux, voorsitter van VL se Landelike Veiligheidskomitee.

Boere word aangeraai om hul pak- en bergingsplekke vir saad, kunsmis, gif, diesel en ander produkte met sekuriteitstegnologie soos ligte, kameras en alarms toe te rus om beweging, veral na-ure, vroegtydig op te merk. Boere word verder aangeraai om geen grootskaalse landbouprodukte of implemente gedurende nagtelike ure op hul landerye te laat, wat geleentheid vir opportunistiese kriminele gaan bied om dit te teiken en daarmee weg te kom nie.

“Die aanloop tot die feesseisoen het reeds begin en die feit dat boere besig is om hul lande te bewerk, laat die moontlikheid ontstaan dat dié tipe misdaad kan toeneem. Boere word dus versoek om baie paraat te wees om hul eiendom te beskerm en enige verdagte beweging aan die SAPD te rapporteer.” sê le Roux.

VL sal ook die SAPD versoek om daadwerklike ondersoek in te stel oor die insidente wat daarop dui dat dit op ‘n georganiseerde wyse plaasvind, omrede daar ‘n mark/afsetgebied daarvoor is en omrede georganiseerde groeperinge en sindikate daarby betrokke is, meen Dr Buys. Verdere versoeke na Landelike Veiligheidskoördineerders om bewusmakingsveldtogte te hou, sal ook van stapel gestuur word.

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Free State Agriculture (FSA) has expressed concern over the increase in seed theft that has been occurring from farms in the Free State since September 2025.

According to Dr Jane Buys, Safety Risk Analyst, areas that have already been targeted include Reitz, Ventersburg, Viljoenskroon and Wesselsbron. Maize and sunflower seeds worth millions of rands have been stolen from farms and transported in vehicles to certain marketing areas.

“The theft of seeds will have an enormous impact on farmers’ farming practices, especially in terms of their yields as well as on food security”, says Jakkals le Roux, chairperson of FSA’s Rural Security Committee.

Farmers are advised to equip their packing and storage areas for seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, diesel and other products with security technology such as lights, cameras and alarms to detect movement, especially after hours, in good time. Farmers are further advised not to leave any large-scale agricultural products or implements on their fields during nighttime hours, which will provide an opportunity for opportunistic criminals to target them and get away with it.

“The run-up to the festive season has already begun and the fact that farmers are busy cultivating their fields raises the possibility that this type of crime could increase. Farmers are therefore requested to be very prepared to protect their property and report any suspicious movement to the SAPS,” says le Roux.

FSA will also request the SAPS to actively investigate the incidents that indicate that it is taking place in an organised manner, because there is a market/outlet area for it and because organised groups and syndicates are involved, says Dr Buys. Further requests to Rural Safety Coordinators to hold awareness campaigns will also be launched.