AGRICULTURAL engineers searching for water sources in the Hluhluwe area where 28 cattle died of poisoning in May last year, discovered several dried up boreholes and seven more rendered useless owing to collapsed windmills.
This was revealed by KZN MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Cyril Xaba, at the official handover of two operational boreholes at the eMthekwini Sports Ground on Thursday.
The boreholes, one with an engine pump and one with solar panels linked to a reservoir, are supporting more than 100 families with livestock.
Violence erupted between communal farmers of the eMthekwini community and a commercial farmer when stray cattle were allegedly poisoned at a drinking hole on the Kaas Farm.
Lack of sustainable water, severe drought, overgrazing and an unsettled land claim necessitated the intervention of the Department in the dispute.
The Minister also promised the installation of four more boreholes – three at Ngodini and one at Mansiya.
‘As part of the Department of Agriculure and Rural Development’s (DARD) emergency programme, we are investing an amount of R4,7-million in drought relief to the Hlabisa Municipality,’ the Minister said.
‘The KZN DARD animal veld management team undertook to help restore vegetation in the overgrazed area and to assist with land care management.
‘As part of the drought intervention, R1,2-million of the relief fund has gone to land care projects in Hlabisa where 218 hectares of grazing land is being cleared and 482 hectares have been cleared of alien plants affecting wetlands and catchment areas.
‘The alien vegetation chokes our water sources and uses up water needed for human consumption and livestock.’
Commercial farmers also undertook to donate cattle to affected farmers, but the MEC said the cattle will only be delivered to the Mathenjwa, Gumede and Mthethwa families after the drought spell when veld conditions have improved.
‘Livestock farmers throughout the province have been advised to sell their cattle because as drought conditions continue, cattle will die and farmers will end up finding themselves with nothing – no herd and no money to buy more stock once the drought is over,’ Xaba said.
KZN DARD has calculated that a budget of R700-million per month is needed to feed livestock in the province and R800-million to provide drinking water for herds at strategic points, which the Minister said, the government could not afford.
‘Feed and fodder are in short supply and very costly as prices have almost doubled.
‘The only option is to use the drought relief funds to get cattle into a healthy condition so that they can be sold.
‘This is what commercial farmers do and members of livestock associations are being encouraged to do the same.’
Researchers of the University of Fort Hare were appointed to investigate the land claim lodged on behalf of Inkosi Mdletshe.
They have 90 days to establish the validity of the claim.
Once this is done they will make their presentation to the Land Claims Commission to take the process forward.
