By ‘Maleruo Leponesa
A devastating tragedy struck a Hope Fountain farmer on Monday, 14 April, when he lost a total of 104 cattle in just two days. The farmer, who requested to remain anonymous, described the experience as emotionally and financially shattering.
“It is such an emotionally and financially devastating loss,” he said. “I lost 85 cattle on the same day, and the remaining 19 died the following day. That brings the total to 104.”
The farmer suspects that the deaths were caused by Kikuyu grass, which covers more than half of his grazing land. He pointed out that only the cattle that grazed on Kikuyu pastures died, while those that fed on other types of grass survived.
State veterinary officials visited the farm the day after the incident and placed it under quarantine. However, the farmer says he has received no further communication or toxicology report from the state vet, despite being promised one.
In the wake of the loss, he chose not to sell the meat due to the emotional trauma. Nevertheless, members of the community flocked to the farm to collect the carcasses, with reports suggesting some individuals even sold the meat elsewhere.
Dr Cebisa Mnqeta, Senior Manager for Veterinary Services in the Eastern Cape, confirmed that preliminary investigations point to poisoning as the likely cause of death, possibly from contaminated pasture. “The state vet performed a post-mortem on the farm and collected samples for toxicology tests,” said Mnqeta. “There is a worm, known as the armyworm, that can cause sickness and death in animals grazing on Kikuyu pastures that are infested with it.”
He added that while this was the first incident reported to their office, a second case of mass cattle mortality was recorded in Boknesstrand in the third week of April. However, no farm remains under quarantine, including the one in Hope Fountain.
Eastern Cape Agriculture MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe urged the public not to consume the meat, as the cause of death was still unconfirmed. Despite the warning, many community members went ahead and did so.
Zukile Nesi, a local resident and former employee of the affected farm, admitted that he and his family consumed the meat. “I even gave it to my neighbours, as there was plenty,” said Nesi. “To this day, none of us has experienced any illness.”
Current farm employees also confirmed they ate the meat and reported no health problems.
