A concerning situation has arisen in Ha Semenyane, Sehlabathebe, where seized animals have reportedly died due to hunger while in captivity. The animals, which are captured for trespassing on preserved lands known as Mekhoabo, are meant to be held for only two weeks before being transferred to the police station if their owners fail to pay the required fine.
According to Sehlabathebe Resource Centre Manager, Sechaba Rakotsoane, the prolonged captivity of these animals without proper care has led to their deaths. He expressed his concern over the issue, stating that it is unacceptable for animals to perish in kraals while others continue to graze nearby.
“I talked to the people involved about this last year, that they should comply and see to it that they work hand in hand with farmers for the safety of these animals,” Rakotsoane said. However, he only recently discovered that animals were dying in the kraal due to prolonged captivity. Upon addressing the matter with the chairperson of the organization responsible for handling these seized animals, he was informed that farmers are now reluctant to pay fines. Instead, they prefer to wait until the animals are taken to the police station, where they can retrieve them without payment.
Rakotsoane believes that the refusal to pay fines has led to animals being held beyond the stipulated period, ultimately resulting in their deaths due to hunger and neglect. The situation calls for urgent intervention to ensure the humane treatment of the seized animals and to find a sustainable solution that benefits both the farmers and conservation efforts in the region.
