Abstract

This study provides a baseline review of the farming approaches employed by emerging livestock farmers in South Africa, with specific emphasis on how different land access systems (communal and freehold) influence production systems, farmer behaviour, and the effectiveness of development support programmes.

The overarching aim is to inform more effective, targeted, and scalable interventions to drive inclusive growth within the livestock sector.

Abstract

The 2025 National Listening Study found that South Africa’s red meat industry is active, resilient, and highly interconnected, but fragmented and insufficiently coordinated. While stakeholders broadly agree on key priorities such as animal health, traceability, biosecurity, and market access, implementation remains inconsistent due to weak system-wide alignment, fragmented communication, and uneven decision-making.

Communication is frequent, primarily through WhatsApp and email, but often lacks structure and shared understanding. Trust is strongest in local relationships and varies across institutions, limiting confidence in industry-wide initiatives. Coordination across the value chain relies heavily on informal networks rather than formal systems, resulting in duplicated efforts and inconsistent execution.

Traceability is widely recognized as essential, with most stakeholders already implementing some practices, but adoption remains uneven due to resource constraints, operational complexity, and limited understanding. Awareness of RMIS is moderate, while understanding of the Red Meat Industry Strategy remains low, particularly at operational levels. Support for the statutory levy is closely linked to visible outcomes and demonstrated value.

Stakeholders across producers, emerging farmers, feedlots, auction houses, abattoirs, veterinarians, and other industry groups consistently highlighted the need for stronger coordination, clearer communication, improved trust, practical support, and greater inclusion in decision-making. Common concerns include disease control, market access, infrastructure limitations, and the sustainability of current systems.

The study concludes that the industry’s primary challenge is not a lack of activity, but a lack of alignment. Future success will depend on deliberate system design, structured collaboration, scalable traceability and biosecurity solutions, and translating strategy into practical action. RMIS is positioned to play a central role in enabling system-wide coordination and transforming fragmented efforts into a cohesive, industry-wide approach.

Abstract

Livestock theft remains one of the most significant threats to South Africa’s agricultural sector, undermining rural livelihoods, food security, and economic sustainability. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Livestock Theft Prevention Forums (LSTPFs), including the National Stock Theft Prevention Forum (NSTPF), Provincial Stock Theft Prevention Forums (PSTPFs), and local Stock Theft Information Centres (STICs), in addressing livestock theft through stakeholder collaboration, crime prevention, and policy influence. Using a mixed methods approach, the study combined quantitative survey data from 628 respondents with qualitative insights from farmers, agricultural organisations, law enforcement officials, and other stakeholders.

The findings indicate that while reported livestock theft cases have declined in recent years, financial losses continue to increase, reflecting a shift toward fewer but higher value theft incidents. Reporting rates to the South African Police Service have improved substantially, demonstrating increased awareness and trust in formal reporting mechanisms. However, recovery rates have remained largely stagnant, highlighting persistent challenges in investigation, prosecution, intelligence sharing, and inter provincial coordination. The study further found low levels of awareness and participation in local prevention forums, leadership ambiguity, inadequate training, limited visibility of forum activities, and insufficient integration of technology into prevention strategies.

Stakeholders consistently identified the need for stronger governance structures, improved communication, enhanced community participation, modernised legislation, and greater use of digital traceability and surveillance technologies. The report concludes that while the LSTPF framework provides an important platform for collaboration and rural crime prevention, its effectiveness is constrained by governance, operational, and coordination shortcomings. Strengthening leadership, improving accountability, modernising the legislative framework, enhancing investigative capacity, and increasing stakeholder engagement are critical to improving livestock theft prevention and strengthening rural resilience in South Africa.