We still need cattle patrols

| Monday June 3, 2013 00:00

This came to the fore when the ministry's permanent secretary appeared before the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Friday. Budgetary constraints were given as reasons for stopping the exercise.

Without doubt, the exercise helped reduce the number of accidents on our roads. Prior to this, a lot of lives were lost. The cattle patrols were helpful as they made sure the cattle that strayed onto the roads were immediately removed from the highways. According to the PS, the A1 highway from Ramokgwebana to Francistown will be under patrol although only certain hotspots will be catered for. We don't think this will be enough. We might see ourselves going back to the dark days when cattle roamed our roads, putting people's lives at risk. The reality of the situation is that cattleposts are spread along our roads and it will be difficult to identify what section qualifies to be regarded as a hotspot. 

We concur with the Member of Parliament for Kgatleng East, Isaac Mabiletsa when he says due to the high number of fatal accidents caused by roaming livestock on national roads it was important for the ministry to weigh the financial costs against the loss of human life. One human life lost is one too many. Maybe it is time for the ministry to go back to the drawing board and review their decision to terminate cattle patrols. Cost cutting measures can be put in place to allow this exercise to continue. We don't really need consultants to have people herd cattle away from the roads. This is one area where savings can be made.

If we cannot retain cattle patrols, then we would need to put in place stringent measures which will mitigate against cattle straying onto the roads. The ministry should make sure that gates for access roads into the highways are in good condition all the time. Cattle owners should also be held accountable for taking  care of their cattle and be penalised heavily if found guilty of allowing their cattle to stray on highways as this is tantamount to playing with the lives of people driving along these roads.