Traffic officials in Mthatha have continued with their crackdown on livestock found wandering along provincial and national roads, warning owners they could face criminal charges.
About 266 stray animals, including cattle and goats, have been impounded since December23 along the busy N2 and R61 routes that cut through the heart of Mthatha.
Yesterday law enforcement officers impounded a herd of 66 cattle and 18 goats found wandering on the N2 near the affluent Northcrest suburb. The action follows the removal of 65 cattle from Nelson Mandela Drive near Fort Gale on Saturday.
Arrive Alive spokesman Tshepo Machaea yesterday issued a stern warning to stock owners who continue to flout rules.
“Very few of the animals are branded and we are now liaising with the department of agriculture and the police’s stocktheft unit to make sure that owners brand all their livestock,” he said.
“We will then be able to create a database and if there are any repeat offenders, we will have no choice but to charge them and take them to court.”
The spokesman said two people were killed when their car collided with a stray animal near Mount Ayliff in December.
“Despite the fact that not many people have been killed in such accidents this festive season, there have been many accidents involving motorists hitting stray animals during the period.”
He said carcasses of dead animals including dogs, cows and donkeys were visible on the N2 and R61.
The owner of an impounded animal is required to pay a fine of R200 to the local municipality to have it released.
In addition they are also liable to pay a once off “impoundment fee” of R30 an animal and a daily “sustenance fee” of R25 an animal.
However, livestock owners who rushed to the local municipality’s animal pound to get their stock released complained that the fine was expensive.
“We don’t have money now after the festive season,” said a livestock owner from KwaLindile village whose nine cows were impounded on Saturday.
But King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality spokesman Sonwabo Mampoza said municipal by-laws did not allow animals to come anywhere near the town.
He said they not only disrupted the flow of traffic but also posed a serious threat to people’s property like cars and houses and their lives. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
Traffic cops get tough on strays
About 266 stray animals, including cattle and goats, have been impounded since December23 along the busy N2 and R61 routes that cut through the heart of Mthatha.
Yesterday law enforcement officers impounded a herd of 66 cattle and 18 goats found wandering on the N2 near the affluent Northcrest suburb. The action follows the removal of 65 cattle from Nelson Mandela Drive near Fort Gale on Saturday.
Arrive Alive spokesman Tshepo Machaea yesterday issued a stern warning to stock owners who continue to flout rules.
“Very few of the animals are branded and we are now liaising with the department of agriculture and the police’s stocktheft unit to make sure that owners brand all their livestock,” he said.
“We will then be able to create a database and if there are any repeat offenders, we will have no choice but to charge them and take them to court.”
The spokesman said two people were killed when their car collided with a stray animal near Mount Ayliff in December.
“Despite the fact that not many people have been killed in such accidents this festive season, there have been many accidents involving motorists hitting stray animals during the period.”
He said carcasses of dead animals including dogs, cows and donkeys were visible on the N2 and R61.
The owner of an impounded animal is required to pay a fine of R200 to the local municipality to have it released.
In addition they are also liable to pay a once off “impoundment fee” of R30 an animal and a daily “sustenance fee” of R25 an animal.
However, livestock owners who rushed to the local municipality’s animal pound to get their stock released complained that the fine was expensive.
“We don’t have money now after the festive season,” said a livestock owner from KwaLindile village whose nine cows were impounded on Saturday.
But King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality spokesman Sonwabo Mampoza said municipal by-laws did not allow animals to come anywhere near the town.
He said they not only disrupted the flow of traffic but also posed a serious threat to people’s property like cars and houses and their lives. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
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