The herd consists of between 12-18 cows and calves. They usually graze at the Mpheteza Shopping Complex, the Nkowankowa Health Centre and areas where there is grass. They also move in smaller groups around the residential neighbourhoods. According to Freddy Rikhotso, a resident, he became aware of the herd last year when he noticed them near the shopping complex.

Also read: 2.4 million cattle inspected for foot-and-mouth

“The cows have been roaming around Bankuna Street since last year and they have made their own kraal next to the health centre,” he said. Ntokozo Zwane from the Department of Agriculture told the Herald she will send a team to look for the livestock after the Herald enquired on the situation. She said it is challenging to find an owner if the animals are not marked.

“We encourage livestock owners to brand their livestock so that it is easy to identify in cases where they get lost. “At the moment in Tzaneen, we don’t have a facility where we can keep the cattle until the owner can claim them,” she concluded.