Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Suzette Steyn and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Kabelo Moreeng. See attached pictures here, here, and here.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) demands urgent accountability from Mafube Municipality 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 the DARD.
The DA has been closely monitoring the construction of this project, and 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.
We wrote to the Acting Municipal Manager, Jamela Selapyane, urging her to investigate the following urgently:
- The delayed completion of the DARD veterinary service facility to assist commonage farmers with the prevention and treatment of cattle.
- Current conditions of municipal kraals – no perimeter fencing, not sufficient individually fenced kraals, and no quarantine facilities.
- Proper control of the movement and roaming of cattle.
- Testing, removal and disposal of dead cattle in residential areas.
- Acquiring financial provincial assistance to allow Mafube Local Municipality to comply with legislation, specifically considering the uncontrolled rapid spread of foot and mouth disease in the Free State Province.
Furthermore, it is imperative that the bylaws 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.
The DA has been advocating for proper bylaws to regulate stray cattle since September 2024.
The DA strongly supports the re-establishment of a secure, effective pound system and improved municipal farm rental conditions to support emerging farmers, with proper perimeter fencing and individually fenced kraals to strengthen disease control.
We will remain vigilant in overseeing the successful completion and lawful implementation of these projects, ensuring that they serve both communal farmers and residents.
We call on the acting Municipal Manager to urgently finalise and have the necessary by-laws gazetted to enable Mafube Local Municipality to comply with constitutional and legal obligations.
With proper management, Mafube can benefit from sustainable agricultural development while safeguarding animal health and reducing residential nuisance caused by roaming cattle.