Stray cattle continue to pose a serious threat to motorists in the Hazyview area, with little accountability from their owners.

The R538, R40 and R536 are daily hazards as unattended cows graze and cross these busy roads, leading to numerous accidents and endangering lives.

Motorists affected by these incidents are now demanding that the City of Mbombela (CoM) enforce by-laws to address the problem.
Cathy Snyman recounted a terrifying accident on the R536 that left five family members hospitalised for a week.

“The worst part is that the accident occurred in the first week of August, and to date, the owners of the cows have not come forward.

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“My car was written off, and I believe the accident could have been avoided with proper by-law enforcement,” Snyman said.

She called on the CoM to act more effectively and for animal owners to take responsibility for their livestock.

Similarly, Charity Mokoena sustained serious injuries when her car overturned after colliding with a herd of cows on the R538 in Mahushu. She lost her vehicle, and no one has been held accountable. “I still do not understand why they were in the middle of the road. It was dark, and they should have been secured. The owner of the animals never came forward to accept responsibility,” she said.

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The CoM spokesperson, Joseph Ngala, stated that the municipality is not responsible for the roads affected by the cattle.

However, this appears to contradict South African municipal by-laws, which stipulate that municipalities are responsible for removing stray, lost or dead animals from roads within their demarcation. This discrepancy leaves victims confused and frustrated, forced to deal with the financial and personal fallout from avoidable accidents.

The community is calling for a clear, effective plan from the municipality to protect motorists and hold negligent livestock owners accountable.