Elephants raid Phalaborwa homes
Four Phalaborwa South families report damaged walls, gates and trees after elephants entered their yards.
PHALABORWA – A herd of elephants has left four families in the Phalaborwa South residential area, close to the Foskor mine, with damaged walls, gates, and trees after wandering into their properties in search of food.
Night-time visit leaves property damaged
According to residents, the elephants entered the area late at night, apparently looking for vegetation to feed on. At one house, they broke two sections of a wall, while at another, they damaged both a gate and part of the wall, as well as snapped branches off mango trees.
“Around midnight last Tuesday, my son woke me after hearing a loud banging sound,” said resident Gerhard Gouws. “When we ran outside, we found elephants eating our flowers and trees. Fortunately, they weren’t aggressive; they were just looking for food. I called someone who managed to contact the authorities, and within minutes, officials arrived and removed the elephants from the residential area.”
Residents suspect drought drove elephants closer
Gouws believes drought may have driven the herd into the neighbourhood.
“The vegetation in the bush is dry, so the elephants probably came here to find something to eat,” he explained. He estimates the damage to his property will cost around R16 000 to repair. Despite the loss, Gouws says he remains positive about living in Phalaborwa. “There’s nothing we can do; it’s nature. I still love being part of this community because wildlife is part of who we are.”
Authorities urge public to report stray wildlife
When contacted for comment, Zaid Kalla, spokesperson for the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (Ledet), urged residents not to approach or attempt to capture stray wildlife.
“The department has trained personnel responsible for managing wildlife,” Kalla said. “For everyone’s safety, community members should contact us or the police immediately if they spot any stray wildlife.”
To report stray wildlife, contact Ledet at 076 168 9005 or 082 801 0013, or reach out to the Phalaborwa Natural Heritage Foundation for assistance at 082 614 3688.
