29 Jun 2026

North East District Council is planning to embark on a campaign to intensify public awareness on commitment and taking care of their livestock.

Speaking in an interview, Senior Bye-law Enforcement Technician, Ms Tshireletso Metlhaleng said they encourage farmers to kraal, shepherd and control their livestock.

This, she said would reduce movement of livestock and assist in the control of like Foot and Mouth Diseases and others.

“There would be reduced damages of property and the environment would be kept clean from cow dung and litter scattered by dogs from dust bins,” she said.

She indicated that although the district does not have enough grazing areas, taking care of livestock was paramount.

Ms Metlhaleng said despite the district being declared a planning area, it remains as a grazing land. 

She stated that stringent measures through employment of existing laws if stray animals continued wandering yet the community would be employed. 

 “These animals include, cattle, goats, donkeys, dogs, cats, pigs and others,” she said, adding owners of domesticated animals were encouraged to always keep their animals at home.

Ms Metlhaleng urged  dog owners to always keep their animals chained to keep them inside their yard, secure their gates and indicated by a sign that there was a dog in the yard.

She further advised owners to obtain a dog license and get a chain and a tag at the cost of P25.

However, she said owners of unlicensed dogs will be charged and all stray dogs will be impounded and handed to veterinary officers for slaughter.

Meanwhile, pigs are to be housed in their pigpens so that they do not roam around the village damaging people’s crops.

Regarding impounded livestock, she said they would be kraaled for 14 days awaiting identification by owners, failure to which it will be declared matimela.

Wandering and stray animals would be seized and owners face fines of P500 and up to P5 000 or imprisonment not exceeding 6 months. ends