Standerton farmer wants safeguards after cow strangles to death in an Eskom-pole
The farmer said the structure of the poles causes suffering to animals and requested their cooperation to prevent cruelty to animals.
A cattle farmer in the Standerton area discovered a cow that was strangled in an Eskom pole in March last year.
DB van Rensburg from the farm Uitkyk visited the offices of the Standerton Advertiser on May 30, outlining the steps that were taken to put Eskom under pressure to safeguard these high-voltage lines.
Two lines cross the farm and the V-shape is where the pregnant Beefmaster, cost running to R28 000 plus VAT, got stuck.
The animal scratched her head between the cross members of the Majuba-Tutuka 400kv Tower 98 footing.
Claim no 436039 was submitted to Eskom under their general and public liability insurance policy in respect of livestock strangulation.
According to a letter dated May 22, clause one of the policy regulates that the insured shall be indemnified up to the level of indemnity specified in the schedule against their legal liability to pay damages and claimant’s cost and expenses arising from injury, damage, malice, or pure economic loss, as insured by the terms of this policy, in the course of carrying out business.
The claim was rejected in its entirety and the file closed.
Eskom’s risk management indicated that there is no legal liability under the policy and accepted no negligence.
A period of no less than 90 days was given to make representations in respect of the decision to reject the claim.
Van Rensburg sought legal action and also notified the SPCA.
In an email to the organisation on May 29 this year, the farmer said the structure of the poles causes suffering to animals and requested their cooperation to prevent cruelty to animals.
The SPCA promptly replied via email and asked for the address or location of the poles. They also wanted to know whether the cow is still alive or had died.
“The high voltage lines are government property,” Van Rensburg said.
“This is animal cruelty at its worst and not the way to handle it.”
He has already lost two animals and the farm trust has no insurance on its livestock.
