INVASIVE NUISANCE Poisonous plant angers Moshana residents
Moshana village residents near Kanye are up in arms with the government over a type of plant species they consider harmful to their lives, yet the government says the tree is vital for human health.
The history of the thorny tree is traced from way back and by then it was mainly used for decoration by the first occupants of the village, who were the Boers. It has since self dispersed across the village, making lives too difficult for Moshana residents and killing their livestock.
Speaking to The Midweek Sun this week, residents said the tree bears thin but sharp and powdery thorns, often invisible on its rectangular leaves, that get easily blown by the wind to any direction and cause damage to their eyes.
A 78-year-old resident, Merapelo Petrus narrated how she lost 46 goats due to the cactus-like tree. She complained that her yard is always crowded by snakes, attracted by the trees that surround her home. “I tell you the tree is useless, it cannot be used for firewood or anything,” she said. Petrus further lamented that she lost all her chickens after being blinded by the cactus thorns. “The cactus is poisonous and it kills chickens which sometimes get trapped around these trees and die,” she says.
Another resident, 54-year-old Onkokame
Dikole said they have on several occasions attempted to burn the plant but failed as it contains plenty of water in its leaves, thus putting off fire. “Even our goats are always coughing and thieves use these trees as hiding places. There is no how a poisonous tree can be used to manufacture human medicine, the government should help us demolish the tree throughout the village,” said Dikole. For Ivy Setlhabi, the tree grows faster and spreads easily through the thorns that get scattered throughout the village by animals. “Offals of the animals that die after consumption are always stiff and dry, covered by thorns,” she explained. Moshana village councillor Thapelo Tsalaile grieved that the tree has no value to their lives thus causing harm. “We had made plans to clear part of the village and put these trees in one place so we create a conducive environment for the people and their livestock,” he said. Recently in Parliament, Kanye North Member of Parliament asked Minister of Environment and Tourism to explain commercial opportunities available to Moshana residents attributable to the tree specie, calling it Motokoroko. Standing in for Minister Philda Kereng, Sethabelo Modukanelo said that there are variety of opportunities for Motoroko, stating that it has medicinal properties that could help in treating diabetes, hang over and high cholesterol, and can be consumed as a wild fruit.