ABSTRACT

Stock theft has long been a problem along the Lesotho–South Africa border. From Moshoeshoe I’s cattle-raiding in the nineteenth century through to the start of the democratic era in Lesotho (1993) and South Africa (1994), the idea that stock theft is both prevalent and an international problem has been generally accepted by one and all. This article traces and problematises the practice of stock theft to show how it has disproportionately impacted the poorest residents of the borderlands. Just as important as the actual practice of theft, however, is the construction of a perpetual ‘stock theft crisis’ on the border that has served the interests of those who are economically better off. The article therefore traces the history of theft, but also of the discourses around theft and thieves in the borderlands. Despite claims that stock theft is seemingly always on the rise, in many cases the sources dispute this. The contradictory and competing ideas about the practice of stock theft have helped to create and maintain the idea of a border in crisis that has historically served the ends of those who already have access to economic and political power.

摘要

长期以来，莱索托-南非边境的股票盗窃一直是个问题。从 19 世纪 Moshoeshoe 一世的掠牛到莱索托（1993 年）和南非（1994 年）民主时代的开始，股票盗窃既普遍又是国际问题的观点已被所有人普遍接受. 本文追踪并解决了股票盗窃的做法，以展示它如何不成比例地影响边境地区最贫困的居民。然而，与盗窃的实际做法同样重要的是，在边境上制造了一场永久性的“股票盗窃危机”，这为那些经济状况较好的人的利益服务。因此，这篇文章追溯了盗窃的历史，也追溯了边境地区关于盗窃和小偷的讨论。尽管声称股票盗窃似乎总是在增加，但在许多情况下，消息来源对此表示质疑。关于股票盗窃行为的矛盾和相互竞争的想法有助于创造和维持危机边界的想法，这种想法在历史上一直为那些已经获得经济和政治权力的人服务。