BUSHBUCKRIDGE – Members of the Bushbuckridge Livestock Farmers have raised their concerns over the lack of grazing camps in the area which compel their livestock to share grazing fields with the buffalo from the Kruger National Park.
“We don’t have grazing camps and our lands are not fenced which makes it easy for wild animals from the Kruger to move easily to and from and mix with our livestock hence there is an outbreak of foot and mouth in the area,” said Mr Nicholas Khumalo the secretary of the organisation during the recently held disease operation-compliance imbizo held in Mariti Community Hall.
The organisation’s chairperson Mr Sam Mnisi added that they were worried about wildlife trespassing into their grazing land and posing as a threat to their own livestock. “I want to know that government will stop buffalo from coming here.” The meeting saw hundreds of young and old farmers packed in the hall.
Mr Andries Mbowane, a farmer, wanted the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to properly fence lands for their goats and cattle.
“In the meantime our animals drink from the same wells and springs with the dangerous animals from the Kruger which at times feeds on them in the Cork and Irieagh areas,” he said.
People also wanted to know why the water found in dipping tanks (emadibhini) was always dirty, even making allegations that it infected their animals with diseases and ticks (emakhatane).
It was also heard that stock theft was rife in the area. One of the farmers mentioned that his 26 cattle were stolen during the festive season. “What will be done to stop stock theft in our area”, he asked.
When addressing the farmers the minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries Mr Senzeni Zokwana stressed that there was no need for farmers to have enmity to wildlife because of foot and mouth,
“We don’t need to hate buffalo, but rather prevent them from mixing with our cattle. Let’s communicate with the management of Kruger National Park to ensure that those animals don’t cross the fence to our grazing land,” he said.
“Let’s communicate, fence properly and if we communicate we will make this country a better place.”
