14 Oct 2013

The Vice President, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe has raised a concern that some people in Mmadinare are vandalising and stealing Dikgatlhong Dam pipeline fence.

China Estate Construction and Engineering Corporation put up the fence to prevent livestock and wild animals from falling into pipeline trenches. Dr Kedikilwe, who is also Mmadinare MP, said it was disappointing to learn that some people stole the fence despite that they were aware of its intended purpose.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Mmadinare and Tobane, the Vice President said the removal of the fence had resulted in people’s livestock falling into the trenches and owners demanding compensation. He said the construction company had accrued costs due to such vandalism as it had to seek funds to replace the stolen fence and compensate the farmers.

Dr Kedikilwe said he also received reports that people had stolen about 800 litres of diesel from the company workshop. He however asked the perpetrators to stop doing so and also desist from stealing livestock.

He said reports indicated that stock theft was rampant in the area and appealed to residents to work together with the police and cluster policing committee to fight such criminal activities.

For his part, the company’s material engineer and environment officer, Mr David Chimtash said the pipeline project started in October 2011 and was 96 per cent complete. The company is in the process of completing the pump station at Robelela.

He said since the project started, they employed about 1 000 people annually. He said the 75km pipeline project started at the Dikgatlong Dam and would end at Moralane. He indicated that through the company’s corporate social responsibility, they had constructed a two and three bedroomed houses for beneficiaries in Mmadinare. The houses were fenced, connected with water and electricity.

He thanked Mmadinare residents for their patience and good working relationship despite challenges of theft and vandalism of the pipeline fence.

Selebi Phikwe veterinary officer, Dr Kingsley Siele said Foot and Mouth Disease vaccination was still in progress in the region. He noted that last year, 150 000 cattle were vaccinated in the area.

 ‘In April this year, we managed to vaccinate 80 000 cattle while in August, only 70 000 cattle were vaccinated. Currently, we are vaccinating livestock between the Botswana and Zimbabwe border, he said. He told residents that about 60 000 cattle in the area have died due to drought.

Dr Siele said Zone 7 would not be demarcated as requested by farmers in the region but it would rather be converted into a protection zone like Zone 6.

He also noted that the restocking exercise is ongoing and the target for Zone 7 is 1190 cattle, which would be distributed to 220 farmers who had their cattle killed due to the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in the area. He said so far, 1158 cattle had been given to 216 famers and four farmers are still to benefit.