February 18, 2005
By Tabisa Mntengwana
SOWETO'S informal farmers, whose cattle graze on open land around the township, will soon have land officially provided for them.
The cattle are likely to be moved to a council-owned farm, Olifontvlei, in Eldorado Park, towards the end of April.
The City and the Gauteng department of agriculture, conservation and environment have been working together to find alternative land for the farmers.
Complaints from residents and road users in Soweto about unhygienic conditions and animals roaming the streets, led Johannesburg's environmental health department and the Johannesburg Metro Police Department to warn farmers they were contravening city by-laws and health regulations.
"We are trying to make every suburb and township crime free," said Nthatisi Madingoane, Johannesburg's media liaison officer. "The plan seems to be working out very well."
Residents complained that the animals roamed freely around the township, damaging private property and causing road accidents and the Gauteng department of agriculture, conservation and environment decided to intervene.
"We know that this is how they make a living; that is why we had to intervene," said Sizwe Matshikiza, the department's media liaison officer.
"We want to develop the farmers and help them keep healthy animals and their businesses in shape," he added. "We are willing to help farmers get proper land for their cattle and at the same time continue to enforce by-laws."
Farmers from Orlando, Meadowland and Klipspruit attended a meeting on 9 February with Khabisi Mosunkutu, the department's MEC, where places to relocate the livestock were discussed.
Mosunkutu assured the farmers that the proposed agricultural land had an adequate water supply.
Matshikiza said the department promoted sustainable urban agriculture and aimed to help farmers fight poverty.
Provision would be made to brand the animals, which would be seen by veterinarians provided by the provincial department.
Moving the cattle also forms part of the city's safety strategy, which aims to keep the townships clean and crime free.
In addition to the farm in Eldorado Park, the province is looking for other land for the township's farmers, including its pig and goat keepers. The city, with the department of agriculture, conservation and environment, is negotiating buying land from existing farms.
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