Grahamstown and its surrounding towns are known for their four-legged pedestrians – but what happens when a driver comes head to head with one at night, outside the city limits?
Who do you call – the SPCA, the traffic department, the fire department or the police?
The SPCA can be called in certain situations.
Grahamstown and its surrounding towns are known for their four-legged pedestrians – but what happens when a driver comes head to head with one at night, outside the city limits?
Who do you call – the SPCA, the traffic department, the fire department or the police?
The SPCA can be called in certain situations.
"If livestock have been injured then the SPCA needs to be called. If there are cows or donkeys on your pavement, the municipality needs to be called on 046 603 6072," explained Karen Kouari, vice-chairperson of the SPCA.
According to municipal spokesperson Mncedisi Boma, faced with livestock at night, the fire department are the right people to call. Their toll free hotline is 080 111 4444 (8888) and their customer care line 080 111 6134 operates at all hours.
The fire department will contact the relevant people to assist, or help themselves.
The only assistance the traffic department can offer is to control the traffic.
Kouari advises that when you call for assistance you should give your name, contact details, a clear account of the incident and an address or directions to the incident.
If there has been an accident as a result of livestock on the road you also need to call the police.
"Drivers need to reduce their speed when they see animals on the side of the road," Kouari said. "Cows and donkeys are unpredictable and can suddenly run into the road and cause accidents."
Because livestock on national roads is a recurring problem in and around Grahamstown, the municipality has bought enclosures on surrounding farms where they can house stray livestock.
Boma said the success of this project was dependent on the support of livestock owners in Grahamstown and surrounding areas, who should make sure strong fencing was erected around the camps
