JOHN Ross Parkway once again became the centre of cattle massacre when a bakkie struck a cow crossing the road near the Harbour Arterial.
Within minutes after the accident at 11.30am yesterday, bystanders flocked to the scene prepared with knives and pangas to claim a piece of the dead prize.
The driver, who fortunately did not sustain any injuries, said he was on route to eMkuze when he suddenly hit a massive object.
His vehicle had to be towed to panel beaters in Richards Bay with significant damage to the front of the car.
Pound or pay
Numerous serious accidents caused by herds grazing along the buzzing road have been reported to the City of uMhlathuze Municipality, but plans for a municipal pound still seem unpromising, despite legislation demanding a local facility.
In a formal letter of complaint to Municipal Manager Dr Nhlanhla Sibeko in July, SPCA Empangeni Chairman Dave Whittaker urged the city to fast-track plans to establish the pound in terms of the KZN Pound Act 3 of 2006 or pay damages claims from accident victims.
‘Our courts recognise delictual liability of a municipality, where such entity fails to act despite the legal conviction of its community.
‘The City of uMhlathuze has been acutely aware of the presence of numerous roaming bovines on a regular basis on its busy urban roads in Richards Bay, specifically John Ross Highway.
‘The complaints, deaths, injuries and substantial damages, that have arisen as a result of the bovines roaming, could not have reasonably escaped the attention of the municipality, in that its officials had attended to the accident scenes referred to above.’
Well Known Richards Bay Criminal Law Attorney, Yolanda Gielink said it is well within the community’s rights to claim from the municipality for damages sustained from collisions with cows.
‘People suffering from this ongoing issue should claim, but they must do so within six months of the accident.
‘They can institute civil action against the municipality at the Empangeni Magistrate’s Court.’
