Council to impound stray cattle

Date: 25 July 2003 By: 

"An amount of R320 000 was granted by the Provincial Government to establish thirteen pounds in the municipal area," Mr M Mapholi, Director of Technical Services of the Makhado Municipality, said on Monday (22nd).

The purpose of the pounds is to impound stray cattle endangering the roads. Mapholi also warned owners of cattle that they will be prosecuted if their cattle wander around, even in cases where owners do not come and claim their confiscated cattle.

Mr Mphigalale, Chief Fire Officer, this week disclosed some of the statistics on accidents caused by cattle on the Vivo road. With an average of between 24 and 28 call-outs per month since February, 10 occurred on the Vivo road of which five (50%) were caused by stray cattle.

The Director Technical Services, Mr Mapholi, said that there are two "legislated pounds" which are operational at present, one at Otto's Hoogte and one at Bungeni, with another temporary pound at Madombidzha. Mr Mapholi estimated the number of accidents caused by cattle on the Elim/Giyani road to be no fewer than five per quarter.

"Within one and a half months, we will have the situation sorted out," Mr Mapholi promised. The provincial grant will enable them to get the pounds constructed and properly fenced. Municipal officials are presently busy with the necessary preparations.

Cattle wandering around on the road unattended are kept in the pound for 14 to 21 days.

"We notify owners through the press and if the owner doesn't avail himself, the Departmental Secretariat also becomes involved in connection with the legal aspect," said Mr Mapholi. The cattle are ultimately auctioned and the funds utilised to sustain impounded cattle. Mapholi observed that the problem of cattle on tarred roads increases during the winter months, when the fields get colder and the cattle move to the roads, which absorb the heat rays.

Mr Mapholi said that there were presently around twenty to thirty cattle impounded at Otto's Hoogte and about the same number at Bungeni. To have stray cattle impounded in these two operational pounds, Mr Gideon van Zyl from the Technical Department Civil Engineering, and Mr Thomas Ndwammbi, Manager Protection Services and Transport, can be contacted at the Makhado Municipality.

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