04 Jun 2014

Residents of Gopong and Lejwana in the Southern District have posited mixed reactions on the proposed amendment of Matimela Act.

They expressed mixed feelings during kgotla meetings addressed by Member of Parliament for Ngwaketse South, Mr Peter Siele recently. Whereas some felt the responsibility of Matimela should no longer rest with the councils because it had proven to be a financial burden to the latter, some suggested the authority (council) should continue as the custodian of stray animals.

Briefing them on the proposed amendment, Mr Siele said proponents of the move stated that the status quo had proved to be a financial burden to the council. He said those drumming up support for the change feel councils looses a lot of money taking care of stray animals through feeding, watering and paying for expenses of drugs of the animals throughout the duration of their stay in council kraals.

“Councils also shoulder the responsibility of paying for allowances of people engaged to take care of these animals,” he said. Mr Siele said there was yet another school of thought who felt Dikgosi should be charged with Matimela as was the case prior to independence.

However, Mr Siele said there were those who proposed that the three months an animal has to spend before being declared stray be reduced to curb the costs accrued in taking care of the welfare of the animals. The same he said advocated that the six months an animal that has not been claimed should be reduced.

According to the act, animals are taken care of by the council from the time they are declared stray until the day of sale in the event their rightful owners do not come forth to identify them.

Mr Daniel Motlhabankwe, a resident of Gopong said it is illogical to have Councils shouldering the responsibility of Matimela. According to him, the Ministry of Agriculture is better placed to assume the responsibility because not only does it deal with agriculture but has leverage in terms of trained human resource.

Another resident Mr Nonofo Kebareng saw nothing with the status-quo and called on the augmentation of Matimela kraals so that owners of stray animals will not have to travel long distances to identify and collect their animals.

In Lejwana, Mr Kooratile Gaboitaolelwe said Dikgosi as custodians of the tribe should be given the responsibility of taking care of Matimela. He said this so because at the moment Dikgosi are expected in terms of the Matimela Act to pass on information pertaining stray animals to a Matimela officer.

Leaving out Dikgosi he said is an anomaly and needs correction henceforth. For her part, Ms Koolebale Letlhare said though she was not against the suggestion to have Dikgosi being given the mandate to look after Matimela, reminded fellow residents that Dikgosi did a good job then because they had Mephato to assist; something she said was no longer the case.

Mr Alfred Mopedi said the Department of Veterinary Services in the Ministry of Agriculture is best suited to oversee Matimela because of the nature of its job. Ends