Emerging farmers see cattle dying from drinking contaminated water

A farming community in the eastern Free State is hit by cattle deaths as a result of drinking sewer-contaminated waters.

Livestock from Commonage farm in Fouriesburg, a small town in eastern Free State, has seen cattle allegedly dying like flies due to drinking sewer water from the nearby inoperative sewer treatment plant.

An emerging farmer, Lephoi Mohlophei, says the animals have been found lying next to the plant with filthy water overflowing from the manholes. 

Livestock from the farm includes sheep, goats, horses, and cows – which are said to be in desperate need of medical attention.

“We are emerging farmers, so the municipality granted us this land to perform our farming duties and we appreciate it. But it feels as if we came here to endanger our animals, because they are either getting sick or, worse, dying from drinking this stinking and dirty water,” said Mohlophei as quoted by SundayWorld.

“We have been trying to reach out to the municipality for a very long time now and they have turned a deaf ear to our screams and cries for help. We believe that they should attend to this treatment plant, because it is not healthy, not even the smell from it.”

Counting the losses, Mohlophei said 37 cows, 15 sheep, two goats, and two horses are currently sick, but they cannot afford medical fees for the animals.

Vystaat Landbou commercial manager Dr. Jack Armour said the situation is heartbreaking as Commonage farmers stand to lose the most, adding that the municipality should take responsibility and work on the treatment plant.

“Commonage management committees need to get organised and take back the local management of the communal resource to keep out non-members, non-indigents, and the criminal element, and liaise closely with the municipality,” said Armour.

However, a spokesperson for the national Department of Water and Sanitation, Sputnik Ratau, claimed contaminated water is not the reason for their death.

“Information received from the municipality is that they are in the process of resuscitating the treatment works,” he reacted.

“There are service providers appointed to refurbish all dysfunctional components and to reprogramme the whole sequencing batch reactor process, and the progress to date is at 70%. This work is funded from the municipality budget.”

Main Image: Beef Farm/FarmersWeekly