Plumtree Town Council has impounded stray cattle in the border town with affected villagers demanding their release noting the fine was exorbitant.
According to the villagers, one stray cattle is fined US$10 per day.
Speaking to CITE, one villager, Tshuma from Thekwane village who had his 10 beasts impounded said the move was insensitive to the plight of villagers.
“My 10 beasts were impounded and I have to pay US$10 per head, this money is too much,” Tshuma lamented.
Another villager from Thekwane, Dube said “This has been going on for years now, the problem started when villagers got to the veterinary land between the town and the village, which used to be a buffer zone, now cattle stray into the town centre,” said Dube.
Contacted for a comment, the Chairperson and Ward 6 Councillor Fanisani Dube said the impound fees were meant to be a deterrent.
“Yes, there is a by-law which is about animals and preservation of the environment, under that by-law, animals such as cattle should be preserved and their movement controlled,” said Cllr Dube.
“The affected residents proposed those figures to ensure that it is really stiff so that people can guard their livestock. We know that the villagers are worried about this policy but the residents in town are actually happy as there is a restriction of movement of cattle in town,” he said.
Dube said following the by-law, the movement of cattle in town is limited.
“The situation is now better than before where it was as if they are heading their cattle in town, so it’s an advantage as some residents have their gardens and the stray cattle were now causing havoc in town, so the fees were really meant to be stiff so that the people feel the pain and be able to control their livestock,” he said.
Dube said the by-law allows the Council to go as far as auctioning the cattle if owners don’t come for them.
“Some villagers come early to claim their livestock but some of them or they won’t even be looking for their cattle, they take time, there is someone whose cow has actually spent one month. So that kind of beast, we end up treating it as a stray and after three months there are policies that allow us to auction, but so far, we haven’t auctioned any livestock,” he said.
