Rural farmers in poisoned cattle saga receive boreholes
eMthekwini community receives boreholes from MEC
FARMERS of the eMthekwini community in Hluhluwe who lost 28 cattle allegedly as a result of poisoning of a waterhole on a commercial farm in May last year, will receive two boreholes.
The KZN Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Cyril Xaba, will hand over the fully functional boreholes at the eMthekwini Sports Ground and announce the company who will launch the official investigation into the land claim lodged by iNkosi Mdletshe on behalf of the eMthekwini community.
Violent clashes erupted between the rural farmers and commercial farmer Arnold Raath when stray cattle dropped dead after drinking from a waterhole on the Kaas Farm on 19 May last year.
The community set fire to his land and tractor and slayed rare and valuable Black Impala.
Minister Xaba visited the unrest area in the aftermath and promised that deep-rooted problems, including lack of sustainable water, severe drought, overgrazing and an unsettled land claim, would be prioritised.
Xaba and the MEC for KZN Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Mike Mabhuyakhulu, called for peace pending the outcome of the investigation.
Chief Bonga Mdletshe of the Mdletshe Tribal Authority in Hluhluwe, called upon the MEC to provide feedback on the land claim lodged by the people of eMthekwini and requested it to be fast-tracked.
