There is widespread unhappiness over the sharp increase in stray livestock that can be seen daily grazing in the central business district, on school fields and roaming in the streets.

A lone bull is often seen grazing on the main traffic circle on Victoria Street near the Endumeni Municipality. Other ‘hotspots’ include McKenzie and Tandy Streets, the Dundee Country Club where two greens and fencing were damaged by the wandering cattle, Dundee Secondary School where a herd of cows has taken up residence on the school fields and on many roads in Glencoe

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Confusion reigns over exactly who is responsible for clearing away the animals that pose a danger to motorists. The operator manning the Municipality’s emergency number, 034 21 222 22, advises residents to contact the SAPS.

The SAPS in turn say it is a Municipal or Road Traffic Inspectorate competency. Traffic officials maintain that even if the animals are rounded up there is no place to take them as the Municipal Pound off Smith Street has not been operational for several years – despite undergoing a Million Rand upgrade about four years ago.

It is understood that a tender has not yet been awarded for the manning of the Pound. The nearest other Pound is in Dannhauser and officials say they do not have the logistics to transport the confiscated animals there.

FC Bester of the Endumeni Residents Association said that with hygiene in the minds of all residents, since the Covid-19 pandemic onslaught, he is concerned that the straying animals would compromise the health of residents and help spread disease. “There appears to be little control. There is also concern that most of these animals do not have brand marks.”

Related story:

Cattle take over school fields

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