Andre Botha, chairman of AgriSA's law and order committee, said that from April 1 last year to the end of March, about 60000 cattle, valued at about R445-million, had been stolen. About 25000 cattle, worth about R90-million, were recovered.

About 60000 sheep, valued at R71-million, were stolen, and 28000 goats, worth about R40-million.

"No industry can survive with these types of statistics," Botha said. "We have huge appreciation for the work of the police's stock-theft unit, but they are too few and too spread out."

"I've referred to criminal activity in rural areas as economic sabotage, and we are talking about only one component, stock theft.

"The theft of other things, such as fencing, scrap iron and irrigation systems, puts us in a system in which it becomes more difficult to operate effectively and ensure that we have food security in South Africa."