21 Jun 2018

Chobe residents have been urged to register their dogs with the council.

Addressing residents of Plateau recently, Chobe District Council byelaw superintendent, Mr Mokate Rapalai said all dog owners were expected to have licences for their dogs, but that residents still failed to comply.

Mr Rapalai explained that the requirements of the licence were that the dog should be six months old, should have a rabies certificate and that the owner should bring P10 and a valid identity card.

He said the licence would need to be renewed after 12 months and that the owner would be expected to put up a board written “Tshaba ntsa or beware of the dog” on the gate.

He further said the dog licence was not transferrable and that when the dog died it would cease to be operational.

Mr Rapalai said failure to comply with the bye-law attracted a fine of P500 or two months’ imprisonment.

On other issues, he expressed concern about the noise that emanated from bars, churches and some homesteads in Plateau.

He said his department found it fit to sensitise the public about the noise and nuisance prior to enforcing the law.

Mr Rapalai said another concern was people who sold liquor without proper licences and those who sold to under 18-year-olds, adding that children under 18 years were not allowed to play snooker in bars.

The area councillor, Mr Boitumelo Kanyetu explained that Plateau was an urban area and that dogs should not be allowed to roam the streets.

Councillor Kanyetu encouraged residents to chain their dogs during day and release them at night so that they could get used to staying within premises.

Assistant Superintendent James Kabangu said since the beginning of the year, the police have registered 25 cases of assault common, 11 of drunken driving, 10 of affray, seven of assault occasioning bodily harm, three of using insulting language and four of noise and nuisance at bars.

Still on crime, he urged residents to mark their property so as to be able to identify them should they get stolen.

He further encouraged them to desist from leaving their clothes on washing lines for long periods.

For his part, Officer Commanding Kasane State Prison, Senior Superintendent Gert Dekoker said the prison currently has 65 inmates, although it has a carrying capacity of 115.

He said the prison accommodated convicts, remands, immigration detainees and debtors, and urged the community to assist in the rehabilitation and integration of prisoners.

Snr Supt Dekoker explained that remands could be visited the whole day by three people or less, and that the visitors were allowed to bring food for them while convicts could only be visited once a month and were not allowed food from outside the prison.

As for debtors, he said they could also be visited anytime and also allowed food from outside the prison. He, however, said food brought by visitors should be enough to be eaten at once as prisoners were not allowed to share.

Snr Supt Dekoker said visitors who brought food to prison were also be expected to taste the food in the presence of prison officials as a way of ensuring the safety of prisoners.

He warned the community against bringing tobacco for prisoners and encouraged visitors to dress decently just like when they visited any other government offices.

Snr Supt Dekoker noted that clothing such as muscle tops and hot pants were not allowed.

He said relatives and friends were not allowed to talk to prisoners at places such as hospitals and courts.

He encouraged relatives to visit, explaining that the visits were a way of promoting integration.

He further said different churches in Kasane conducted services at the prison on Saturdays and Sundays to provide spiritual counselling to inmates.

Snr Supt Dekoker informed residents that the inmates were imparted with skills on upholstery, and that the community was allowed to bring their furniture for repairs.

He further said the community would be expected to buy their own materials and that the prison would only charge for labour.

A resident, Ms Marea Rongwane complained about some drivers who played loud music at night in front of people’s yards.

Ms Rongwane also said some people left their dogs behind when going on transfer, adding that as a result the dogs roamed the streets looking for food.

Mr Amos Phuduhudu complained about dogs that relieved themselves in neighbours’ yard, and appealed to dog owners to keep their pets in their yards to avoid misunderstandings.

A bar attendant, Ms Sekao Xenyane said after the under 18-year-olds were refused permission to buy alcohol, some adults bought for them and that some under 18-year-olds used abusive language against bar attendants for refusing them entry into bars.

A bar owner, Mr Justice Shamukuni alleged that the police were unfair as they only monitored noise in some bars while others were left to play loud music.

He further said some customers played loud music from their vehicles outside bars, and that bar owners were fined for noise nuisance.

In response, Mr Rapalai said those who played music in their vehicles would be dealt with accordingly, and he concurred with Mr Phuduhudu that dogs that roamed the streets were a concern.

He, however, said while the council was empowered to impound stray dogs, it had a challenge as there was no place to keep them. ENDS