30 Aug 2023

Chancers have been cautioned against trying to defraud a scheme to compensate farmers who lost livestock through cross-border stock rustling.

Those who submitted applications for compensation while knowing that they did not qualify have been asked to withdraw them without delay.

Updating farmers on the impending restocking exercise during a kgotla meeting in Bobonong on Tuesday, Kgosi Joel Masilo disclosed that six such cases had already been registered with the police.

Some people, he said, tampered with the affidavits to suit their fraudulent tendencies.

However, Kgosi Masilo said that reports from some villages under his jurisdiction showed that many people heeded the warning and were withdrawing their applications.

“We have been requested to ask those who don’t qualify to withdraw your applications whilst they still can, because surely your secrets will come out. Be warned in time because there are people who know about you out there,” Kgosi Masilo warned.

He indicated that 535 cattle, 567 goats, 50 sheep and 16 donkeys would be distributed to 147 farmers in the first phase of the re-stocking exercise, explaining that a farmer that lost five or more cattle would only be compensated a maximum of five cattle, while those who lost less than five cattle would receive the actual number of their missing animals.

He said with regard to small stock, maximum compensation would be 25 animals, while for donkeys a farmer would receive four or less, depending on the number of animals lost.

“You will be accorded a chance to choose which animals you want to keep,” Kgosi Masilo said, and stated that officials from the Ministry of Agriculture had indicated they were ready to kick-start the exercise.

Registration for the second phase will close on September 5.

On other issues, Kgosi Masilo complained about the prevalence of illicit drugs at schools.

He observed that Borotsi ward in Bobonong was marred by crime, with young people in the lead.

He said a meeting was recently held at the ward to address the problem since it had come to light that some older people were partaking in the wrongful acts, especially providing school-going minors with drugs to use and also peddle at school.

He also decried that rape and defilement cases were rising while adults were silent about the crime.

He said that as part of the Mindset Change drive, dikgosi in his territory would be addressing ward meetings on a regular basis before a general kgotla meeting that would be held every three months. ENDS