22 Oct 2020

Department of Veterinary Services is reportedly investigating what could have caused death of 37 cattle and seven goats at Nkgobotwane and Lesongwane cattle posts near Mmadinare.

Selebi Phikwe Station Commander, Superintendent Meshack Pulenyane explained in an interview that they received a report from farmers on October 15t following the death of their livestock.

He said at first inspection, they found that eight cattle and four goats had died, adding that by Sunday, the numbers had multiplied.

Superintendent Pulenyane explained that they were awaiting results since veterinary services had taken samples to determine cause of death.

He said what they had gathered from the farmers was that for many years,  livestock had always been drinking water from Motoutse River where water from the BCL mine converged with sewage water from Prisons Services and Botswana Defence Force camp.

He added that they were aware of gardens operating in the area and had since conducted some investigations to find leads on the possibility of contamination.

Mr Force Louis of Lesongwane Cattle Post said he had so far lost eight cattle, adding that some were incapacitated showed signs of brittle joints and they failed to move from one place to another.

Mr Louis said he was still trying to find answers as to what might have happened, saying for many years they used water from BCL without complications.

“We are very confident in the safety of water from Motoutse River as some of it comes from the BCL mine,” said Mr Louis. ENDS