Mafube Municipality must provide an urgent account following the interruption of the long-overdue pound and cattle-handling facility project, which now places communities, property, and animal health at risk.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) secured funding to develop cattle-handling facilities in Mafube, which, through mutual agreement, would include a pound system. Once complete, these facilities would remain under municipal ownership and be co-managed by the municipality and DARD.
Construction progress halted
Councillor Suzette Steyn, DA councillor, states that they have been closely monitoring the project’s construction. “We are extremely disappointed that work has now been interrupted during this crucial period.”
This failure follows the DA’s request that the Municipal Manager gazette the appropriate by-laws and reinstate the long-overdue pound system to manage stray cattle, protect residents’ properties, ensure public safety, and support emerging farmers who rely on communal grazing land.
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Steyn wrote to Acting Municipal Manager Jamela Selapyane, urging her to investigate the delayed completion of the DARD veterinary service facility designed to assist commonage farmers with cattle disease prevention and treatment.
She also requested information on the current conditions of municipal kraals, noting inadequate perimeter fencing, insufficient individually fenced kraals, and the absence of quarantine facilities.
Steyn emphasises that there is no proper control over cattle movement and roaming, nor adequate testing, removal, and disposal of dead cattle in residential areas.
Disease control urgency
The pound requires financial provincial assistance to enable Mafube Local Municipality to comply with legislation, particularly considering the uncontrolled rapid spread of foot-and-mouth disease in the Free State Province.
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“It is imperative that the by-laws for roaming cattle, as approved by council, be published in the Provincial Gazette and compliance officers be appointed to provide the municipality with the necessary legal authority,” Steyn stated.
The DA has been advocating for proper by-laws to regulate stray cattle since September 2024. The party strongly supports the re-establishment of a secure, effective pound system and improved municipal farm rental conditions to support emerging farmers.
This includes implementing proper perimeter fencing and individually fenced kraals to strengthen disease control measures and protect both livestock and community welfare.
With proper management, Mafube can benefit from sustainable agricultural development while safeguarding animal health and reducing residential nuisance caused by roaming cattle.
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