This qualitative research and case study analysis resulted from the dearth of information on livestock theft and the livestock theft perpetrators. The purpose of this study was to explore, describe and explain the criminal behaviour associated with livestock theft from a criminological point of view by compiling a sample-specific profile of the perpetrators. Interviews were conducted with 35 offenders, 28 case dockets were analysed and additional interviews were conducted with the SAPS STU members and victims to determine the modus operandi, motives and causes of the crimes. Criminological theories were applied to explain the offending behaviour. The findings of this study revealed that the livestock theft perpetrators come from diverse backgrounds regarding age, qualification status and socio-economic class. Their crimes were of an organised nature and the motives and causes revealed that financial intent was the main driving factor of the behind the thefts. / Dinyakisiso tsa boleng le tshekatsheko ya dinyakisiso tsa tiragalo di feleleditse ka tlhokego ya tshedimoso ka ga bohodu bja leruo le basenyi ba bohodu bja leruo. Maikemisetso a dinyakisiso tse e bile go utolla, go hlatholla le go hlalosa maitshwaro a bosenyi a go amana le bohudu bja leruo go ya ka lehlakore la tsa bosenyi ka go ngwala phrofaele ya mabapi le sampole ya mahodu a leruo. Dipoledisano di swerwe le basenyi ba 35, ditokete tsa melato di ile tsa sekasekwa gomme dipoledisano tsa tlaleletso di ile tsa swarwa le maloko a Lekala la Maphodisa leo le somago ka Bohodu bja Leruo le batswasehlabelo ka nepo ya go tseba mokgwa wo o somiswago ka bohodung bja leruo, maikemisetso le tseo di bakago bosenyi. Diteori ka ga dithuto tsa bosenyi di ile tsa diriswa go hlalosa maitshwaro a tshenyo. Dikutollo tsa dinyakisiso di utollotse gore basenyi ba bohodu bja leruo ba tswa maemong ao a fapanego mabapi le mengwaga, maemo a tsa thuto le maemo a ekonomi ya setshaba. Bosenyi bja bona ke bjo bo rulagantswego gomme maikemisetso le dilo tseo di bakago bosenyi di utollotse gore maikemisetso a tsa ditshelete, bojato, go iphedisa, tlhokego ya mesomo, boipuseletso, kgatelelo ya sethaka, maemo a setshabeng le tshomisobosaedi ya diokobatsi e bile dilo tse kgolo tseo di bakago bohodu. / Uhlaziyo locwaningo lwe-qualitative kanye ne-case study luvezwe wumphumela wokusweleka kolwazi ngokuntshontshwa kwemfuyo kanye nalabo abantshontsha imfuyo. Inhloso yalolu cwaningo ukuhlola, ukucacisa kanye nokuchaza ukuziphatha kobugebengu obuhambisana nokuntshontshwa kwemfuyo, ngokulandela izifundo zezobugebengu ngokwenza uhlaka olulula lohlobo lwalabo abenza lobu bugebengu. Kwenziwe izingxoxo zama-interview nabenzi bubugebengu abangu 35, kwahlaziywa namadokethi amacala kwabuye kwenziwa ama-interview namalunga ezamaphoyisa abhekene nokuntshontshwa kwemfuyo abe-Stock Theft Unit kanye nalabo abangamaxhoba okuntshontshelwa imfuyo, ukuthola indlela okusetshenzwa ngayo, isisusa kanye nembangela yobugebengu. Amathiyori ezifundo ngobugebengu asethenziswe ukuchaza indlela yokuziphatha kobugebengu. Okutholakele kucwaningo kuveze ukuthi izigebengu ezintshontsha imfuyo zivela emikhakheni ehlukene, maqondana neminyaka yobudala, izinga lemfundo kanye nesimo sezomnotho emphakathini. Ubugebengu yinhlobo yobugebengu obuhleliwe, kanti izisusa nezimbangela zikhombise inhloso yezezimali, ubugovu, ukuzama ukuziphilisa, ukusweleka kwemisebenzi, impindiselo, ingcindezelo ngontanga, isimo emphakathini kanye nokusetshenziswa kwezidakamizwa ngezinye zezinto ezingumfutho obangela lokhu kuntshontshwa kwemfuyo. / Criminology and Security Science / M.A. (Criminology)