Highway cows will ride to pound

THE City of uMhlathuze Municipality has decided to put a swift end to Richards Bay’s road roaming cattle by building a municipal pound.

Reporting cases to the municipality’s 24-hour complaints line will result in cows being removed from motorways and placed in the shelter.

Herders or cattle owners wanting to reclaim their animals will be required to pay a fine.

However, uMhlathuze Public Safety & Security Manager Zolile Poswa said he cannot divulge more specific details on the project.

‘We are still currently busy with the administration process – I cannot discuss the plans prematurely.’

City Ward 2 Councillor Alen Viljoen said he is pleased a plan is being put in place to prevent serious injuries or deaths of innocent drivers on the John Ross Parkway and around Alton.

‘I hope the pound will open within the next month.’

On Sunday morning, cows herded across the John Ross resulted in two of the herder’s dogs hit by cars near the Mondi robots.

One motorist stopped to tend to one of the dogs lying motionless, but still alive, on the highway.

‘The poor dog was in so much pain, I could not pick it up,’ said Leandri Clifton-Smith.

‘I watched as the dog’s owner marched towards it with a panga.

‘I begged him not to kill his dog and told him I will take it to a vet and pay the bill.

‘Two other cars stopped to assist and we eventually got the poor dog on a bakkie and took him to the Meerensee veterinarian, but sadly Dr Singery could not save him and he was euthanized.’

SPCA Richards Bay Inspector Shelly Prinsloo said the herders must simply buy food for their cattle, or lose them.

‘The problem is there is no grazing for cows in townships so cattle owners bring them into town.

‘But it is not a solution – it only leads to accidents, resulting in injuries, potentially fatal, for both people and cows.

‘They must buy food stock and bring it their cattle.’