Livestock theft continues to plague South African farmers and rural communities, causing significant financial loss and emotional distress. In response to this ongoing crisis, Dr Mpho Mzingelwa, a lecturer in the Discipline of Information Systems and Technology at UKZN, proposes an Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) based solution: a conceptual model for a national livestock identification and tracking system.
Originally from the Eastern Cape province, Mzingelwa was awarded a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at UKZN’s Spring Graduation for his research, titled Livestock Identification and Tracking System: A Case Study of South Africa. Supervised by the Dean and Head of the School of Management, IT and Governance Professor Stephen Mutula, the study offers a fresh approach to addressing livestock theft with modern technology.
‘I pursued the DBA because I wanted to investigate a societal, business, and community problem, then propose a practical solution,’ said Mzingelwa.
His study further identifies a range of ICT tools that could combat livestock theft, including mobile phones, biometric technology, radio and TV broadcasting, camera traps, cloud computing, and drones. Mzingelwa’s proposed system recommends two key features: retinal biometric identification and three distinct tracking methods.
‘However, there is a need for collaboration among stakeholders, including the Department of Agriculture, farmers, community forums, the South African Police Service, and the State Information Technology Agency,’ he said.
Mzingelwa hopes that his research will offer a long-term solution to livestock theft and contribute to the economic sustainability of farmers and rural communities affected by this issue.
Words: Samukelisiwe Cele
Photograph: Sethu Dlamini