VIDEO: Accidents by stray animals

On Saturday, a local pastor who asked to remain anonymous, smashed into a Bushbuck before his vehicle, a VW Polo, burst into flames. He and his son escaped the inferno without injury.

“I was driving back home just after 19:00 when I heard a sudden bang. We got out to investigate, and saw a Bushbuck lying next to the road. Smoke seeped from the car’s bonnet. In minutes, my car was engulfed in flames. It burnt to ashes before our eyes,” the pastor recalls.

Early Wednesday, Mr Giel Erasmus, in his yellow Benicon Mining Equipment bakkie, knocked down a donkey.

“It was dark when the animal crossed the road to Doornkop. It hit the right hand-side of the bakkie and fell dead,” said Mr Erasmus.

Contractors working under the Road Agency SA attended the scene and buried the donkey just metres away.

“We are called to this road on a daily basis to pick up carcasses. In the past we used to take them to the dumping site. Three months ago we were chased away by a municipal official and told not to bring dead animals to the site again. Since there is no other dumping site along this area that we know of, we dig a hole next to the side of the road and bury them,” said Paul Mokoma.

See VIDEO here:

“No-one takes responsibility for the dead animals. We cannot leave them lying on the ground, lest they cause more accidents,” added Mr Mokoma.

A resident from Doorkop, Tinyiko Shivhambu, told the Observer that accidents occur regularly

“I stay across the road, these things happen quite often. It will be very difficult to find the owner of the donkey now because he knows he is in trouble,” said Mr Shivhambu.

The municipal head of public safety, Mr Ahmed Seedat commented saying ” The road safety act states clearly that no animals are allowed on a public road. If the irresponsible owners are identified they will definitely be charged “.

Provincial spokesperson of traffic, Mr Joseph Mbuza, promised to engage with Doornkop residents.

He blames fence theft as part of the problem.