GREAT BRAK RIVER NEWS - In a letter to the George Herald, the Southern Cape Land Committee (SCLC) condemns what they call ‘vicious and cruel attacks’ on animals of the Uitsig farm, owned by the Mascinedane farmers of Lawaaikamp.
According to the SCLC, 63 of the far-mers’ livestock have died as a result of poisoning.
The farmers, who allege that they have a witness, suspect that this is part of an ongoing vendetta pursued against them by a nearby neighbour by distributing poisoned food on their farm.

A hard journey
The Mascinedane farmers acquired the Uitsig farm through the government’s land reform programme. "The farm is located far from Lawaaikamp, making access difficult, and the farmers had to struggle for years to secure the post settlement support which is supposed to be provided to land reform projects. The farm was just beginning to bear fruit but with this attack the farmers feel they are back to the start again," says the SCLC.
The Mascinedane farmers say their case is not being given the attention it demands by the relevant state departments. The police officer who took the first statements from the farmers was not supportive and they are still awaiting test results as to the cause of death, states the SCLC.
Apparently, the SPCA initially indicated they will not pursue the case and according to the SCLC, the department of agriculture, who works with the group, has not been there to inspect the site.

SPCA needs witnesses
The Garden Route SPCA commented that they have, since 2006, been attending to complaints about pigs that trespass on a farm nearby the Mascinedane farmers’ property. According to their records, this neighbouring farmer has had to impound pigs and goats himself eight times at the SPCA.
The SPCA’s senior inspector reacted to a call from a Mascinedane farmer to put dying pigs out of their misery on the farm, but the complainant has at no stage informed the association that there were eyewitnesses. "We cannot investigate a case of animal abuse if there is no evi-dence."
Insp. Pypers of the police also visited the complainant and asked the workers to remove all suspicious-looking fodder which they themselves have not fed to the animals, says the SPCA.

A decade of support
According to Wouter Kriel, spokesperson for agricultural minister Gerrit van Rensburg, the Mascinedane farmers have enjoyed 10 years of continued support from the department. A total of R264 000 was granted to the farmers in the form of water troughs, fencing, the cleaning of a dam and provision of water.
"I can understand the farmers’ frustration with the situation and bear knowledge of the fact that there had been a history of frustration among the neighbouring farmers. However, it is very sad that an animal dispute had to end like this."
According to Kriel, a report of the poisoned animals was submitted to the agricultural department on 5 May, after which a technician inspected the farm immediately. A veterinarian from the department took samples on the farm on 7 May which were sent to Onderstepoort for analysis.
On 21 May they received a report from Onderstepoort which was handed over to the Great Brak police. Kriel further states that a Mr Mnyoka from the Mascinedane farmers’ group was telephonically informed about the report.
By the time of going to press, the George Herald has not had any response from the police.

Article: Michelle Pienaar