Eastern Cape coastal municipalities are gearing up for the festive season ahead of an expected huge influx of holidaymakers. Buffalo City Metro spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said the metro expected more than two million visitors and the city’s safety and security plans were already kicking in. “BCM puts plans in place before the festive season to prepare and manage the influx of public to the various beaches, amenities and events,” he said.
Stock theft has been an ongoing and violent criminal activity within the province. The victims are commonly rural subsistence farmers as it is known they have scarce resources when it comes to guarding their livestock, especially cattle.
Members of one of East London's most prominent farming families say they are considering leaving the land they have farmed for five generations after they were again targeted by stock thieves.