Marble Hall residents capture roaming crocodile
Arthur and Lavelle Roden safely captured a two-metre Nile crocodile on Saturday morning in Leeuwfontein and relocated it.
Residents of Marble Hall were left shocked after a Nile crocodile was spotted wandering near Leeuwfontein during the early hours of Saturday morning.
According to local resident Arthur Roden, members of the Marble Hall SAPS contacted him at approximately 00:45 on May 16, after officers reportedly saw a crocodile crossing the road while conducting patrols in Leeuwfontein.
The crocodile was eventually located in a field near the new mall.
Arthur and his daughter, Lavelle Roden, left Marble Hall shortly after 01:00 to capture the huge reptile.
“We managed to locate the crocodile fairly quickly,” Arthur said.
He estimated the crocodile to be about two metres long and said it appeared to have sustained minor injuries.
“The crocodile had two marks on its body, which we suspect may have been caused by people throwing stones at it. The wounds did not appear to be serious,” he explained.
The crocodile was safely captured and transported to the Schuinsdraai Nature Reserve, where it was later released.
According to Arthur, the crocodile was caught not far from the local sewage plant, where another crocodile was seen crossing the road on Monday evening by Leeuwfontein residents.
The sightings have raised concern among community members, who fear the presence of crocodiles near residential areas could pose a danger to residents and livestock.
Residents claim crocodiles have been spotted near the sewage treatment plant for some time, but believe ongoing refurbishment work at the facility may have disturbed the animals and driven them closer to nearby roads and homes.
The Leeuwfontein Waste Water Treatment Works is situated near the crocodile-infested Olifants River, north of the settlement.
Earlier this year, the Sekhukhune District Municipality announced that refurbishment work at the treatment works was progressing well following the start of construction in March. The project is expected to be completed by November.
A video shared on social media this week showed one of the Nile crocodiles crossing the road near the Leeuwfontein Crossing and local sewage treatment works.
As this is the second Nile crocodile spotted in the same area, residents believe there may be many more in the vicinity.
Arthur has urged residents to contact him if any further crocodile sightings occur in the area so the animals can be safely removed and relocated away from the community. He can be contacted on 082 327 8482.
