Fifteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

Stock theft is one of South Africa’s most persistent crimes with about 400,000 domestic animals, valued at more than R1billion reported stolen between 2006-2010, 2018 still shows that the estimated R1 billion in losses currently suffered by South African livestock industry as a result of stock theft and it is expected to escalate as the incidences of stock theft increase in all provinces of South Africa. As a recourse, the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) samples are used as an important forensic tool to resolve stock theft and is increasingly becoming vital in ensuring accuracy and fairness in the Criminal Justice System (CJS). Equally, the Mobile Telephone Network [MTN] (South African cellular service provider) and Huawei Technologies have partnered to launch a Connected Animal solution, an Internet of Things (IoT) based innovation aimed at solving the rampant problems of stock theft. Mixed-method approach was adopted in this study, aided by empirical research and documentary for date collection. This study found that combating stock theft using notable nexus of these applications can adequately help in gathering evidence to work against doubts of stock theft relating to identification by DNA evidence. It is recommended that livestock farmers exercise their actionable educational insights regarding the use of DNA and IoT for combating stock theft. They can physically match ear notches and brands as well as specific descriptions and photographs of animals and further verify near real-time visibility of their livestock in varying periods respectively.