Community members cause spectacle after N4 accident involving buffalo
CAUTION: NOT FOR SENSITIVE VIEWERS. Some community members started cutting meat out from the buffalo’s carcase after is was hit by a car on the N4 this morning, against warnings from veterinary officials on the scene that it could be carrying disease.
An accident turned into a spectacle after a motorist hit a buffalo on the N4 between Marloth Park and Hectorspruit early this morning, April 8.
The driver said a herd of buffalos were crossing the road. He managed to swerve out, but hit one buffalo and injured another.
The car had three occupants who sustained minor injuries, and one of them was taken to a local hospital.
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While veterinary officers were on the scene to transport the fatally wounded buffalo to their labs for testing, some community members forcibly started cutting into the carcase for its meat, in what was deemed a ‘looting spectacle’.
“We are not sure if the buffalo has any diseases, and we are here to take it to the laboratory as part of the precautions we need to take to ensure that we curb any outbreak that might be carried by the animal,” said a vet on the scene who did not wish to be named. He further added that the herd is most likely to be from the Kruger National Park (KNP). “It might be that they were pushed to the fence by some lions and found themselves outside the gate. We are only speculating at the moment, but we will investigate the incident,” he said.
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The accident victim, who also wished to remain anonymous, told Corridor Gazette that she demands compensation from the buffalo owner.
“There is no way the buffalos would have escaped from the KNP. It comes from one of the lodges around Marloth Park. There are several people who came to check it. It has a mark on its ear, which means it has an owner around here. Whoever it is, they must come forth so we can settle for insurance,” she said.
The Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison (DCSSL) has cautioned everyone to be careful.
“I have just learnt of the accident and would like to urge motorists to be careful, especially when driving in the dark. The department does not get in between third parties, especially in the case where there might be compensation demands between them. Ours is to ensure that accident scenes are attended to and the roads opened for other motorists. This is a case between the victims and the owner of the buffalo, if there is one. We cannot get involved,” said the DCSSL’s spokesperson, Moeti Mmusi.
