01 Dec 2014

The Minister of Agriculture Mr Christiaan De Graaff says he is aware of retrospective reports of cattle deaths that allegedly happened in 2012 in a dry pond in Semolo. 

Answering a question in Parliament  from the MP for Ngami Mr Thato Kwerepe, Minister De Graaff said his ministry received such reports during kgotla meetings addressed in the area in October 2014 by ministry officials.

Following such reports, he said, an investigation team led by a deputy director in veterinary services visited the evaporated pond but the investigation did not reveal any current cattle deaths in the area.

He said the cattle deaths that allegedly occurred in 2012 in the area coincided with the peak of drought in that year, and, to assist, his ministry intervened by subsidising cattle feeds in Ngamiland and Zone 7 by 35 per cent and 25 per cent in other areas which was subsequently increased to 50 per cent countrywide to save the national herd.

In view of the above, he said his ministry could not attribute the said cattle deaths to drinking water from the pond conclusively. In the meantime, Minister De Graaff said authorities responsible for the evaporated pond were encouraged to fence it off.

MP Kwerepe had asked the minister if he was aware that some farmers at Semolo had lost their cattle as a result of drinking water from the evaporated pond. ENDS