Fire damages Soweto’s Equestrian Centre
All this was done because burning grass in winter is a township tradition."
On June 8, Enos Mafokate (King of horses), founder of Soweto Equestrian Centre at Elkah in Rockville experienced a painful ordeal when a large portion of grass was burnt, leaving his horses without grass to graze.
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“What has happened here is very painful and when I saw the burnt grass, I literally shed a tear.
“This has left our horses with no grass to graze during this winter season,” said Mafokate.
The community of Soweto has gotten used to the idea of the winter season being a time to burn the grass. However, what they are not aware of is the adverse harm they impose on animals.
“I got here a day after they had set the grass alight and my biggest concern was what if the fire consumed my horse as well because a large portion was burnt. All this was done because burning grass in winter is a township tradition,” Mafokate explained.
According to Mafokate, the grass that was on the field was enough to cover the horses until the arrival of the spring season. Basically, the horses had enough grass to graze until the next rains.
“The way the grass was so big, I had calculated that it could reach September. And I had placed a fence around that portion of the grass to preserve it until that period,” he said.
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It is important to educate people about their surroundings and the negative impact of their actions towards people around them. Mafokate hopes to one day host an awareness programme that will educate the community of Rockville about horse as well their wellbeing.
“Educating my community is an important thing to do.
“To sit down with them and educate them about the importance of grass in a horse’s life as well as the dangers of burning the grass,” Mafokate concluded.
Mafokate is pleading for the public’s assistance with portions of grass that will help them be able to feed their horses. For assistance please contact him on 082 330 7030.
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