Cattle row
THE problem of stray cattle, which continues unabated in Ndlambe, took a new twist this week with concern being expressed over a possible plan to temporarily contain the wandering beasts in a municipal plot between Albany Road and High Street.
Residents and motorists have long complained about the cattle, which are allowed to roam around the east bank, grazing on any verge and open plot, and causing a hazard to traffic by crossing the busy R72.
A High Street resident called TotT on Monday alarmed at the plans he had heard for the municipal-owned plot between 25 High Street and the Tikwe apartment complex.
The large plot, part of which is used as a thoroughfare from Albany Road to High Street, had already been a source of contention as it is overgrown with alien invasive syringa trees and residents had asked for years for the municipality to clear away the bush.
“I was happy when I saw it finally being cleared, but then I heard about the plan to put cattle there,” said the resident, a former municipal employee who asked to remain anonymous.
He showed TotT the extent of the syringa forest which had been partially cleared and the grassy area to the side of the plot which is used as a thoroughfare, also by cattle as they make their way from the R72 to the east bank neighbourhood.
Another neighbour, who works for Sanral, said he knew of the plan for the plot but it wasn’t as dire as the first resident believed.
He said Sanral was well aware of the problem with stray cattle wandering onto the main road and had decided to fence in the bottom portion for safety reasons as it was on the national road boundary.
The idea is to herd any cattle wandering the neighbourhood into the plot where they could be kept overnight and then picked up by the municipal truck and transported to the animal pound in Alexandria.
It would be up to the municipality to fence the rest of the plot, he said.
“It will not be a permanent kraal,” he insisted. While TotT was taking
photographs of the site, yet another High Street resident stopped his car and said he had heard about the plan and was troubled by it.
The neighbour who had called TotT said he was somewhat relieved if it wasn’t meant to be a permanent containment area for cattle, but was still bothered by the idea of lowing cattle next to him at night and the fact he did not have a cattle-proof fence.
Municipal spokesman Cecil Mbolekwa acknowledged receipt of TotT’s questions sent on Monday but said by yesterday lunchtime he had not received a response from the directorate of community protection services.
Deputy director Fanie Fouche was also copied into the e-mail.