Farmer loses 20 cattle in thunderstorm

Gaone Chepete
Correspondent | Monday March 5, 2012 00:00

 

Seanana Ketlhamile says his herdsman told him by phone on Thursday last week that he had found 20 of his cattle dead after a brief thunderstorm.

'My herdsman said he was confronted by the devastation when he went to the kraal to let the cattle out after the heavy thunderstorm,' Ketlhamile says.

'I was in Serowe when I got the call. I reported the incident to the Tonota veterinary office and an officer in Borolong Village before I left for the cattle post at Bonwatshephe where I found a scene of wanton destruction and devastation.

The veterinary officers who came to inspect the scene told Ketlhamile that though his loss was considerable, he should not expect any compensation because the onslaught on his kraal was the result of a natural disaster.

'I burned the carcases and watched my wealth go up in flames with a bleeding heart,' he says. 'It's such a big loss. I am left with only a few in my kraal now.'

Before it ravaged Ketlhamile's kraal, lightning torched trees at Bonwatshephe recently.

Mpho Legwaila of the vet office in Tonota told The Monitor: 'Blood was flowing out of the mouths of the animals when we got there.

We could only advise the farmer on the best way of disposing of them. It is sad that there is no compensation where a natural disaster is involved, but there is nothing we can do.'