Gauteng Smallholder March 2018 | Page 20

LIVESTOCK Animals on the road: Who’s responsible? L iving on in the country, most smallholders will have encountered stray animals or herds of animals being driven on our roads, as well as people riding horses. A number of issues arise in these circumstances. The owner of the animal, the herder and rider all have responsibilities. A stray animal is any domestic animal that is wandering at large or is lost, on a public road or in a public place, and not accompanied by its owner or person responsible for it. According to the proposed National Pounds legislation, livestock owners “must exercise control over (their) animal so as to avoid damage to another person's property” and owners are “liable for damage caused by that animal”. The courts have stated, “Thus where the fence is damaged or broken and animals enter the road causing road accidents the owner of the fence is negligent and bears the liability for the damage caused. The owner has to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the fence serves BEEKEEPING From page 17 Continued on page 19 ~ Southerns Beekeeping Association covers greater for transporting frames once Johannesburg, the West Rand removed from a hive. And, if he has a large number and the South Rand ~ Northern Beekeeping of frames from which to extract honey, he will want a Association covers Centurion and Pretoria. honey spinner, which can add a few thousand rands to the value of his equipment. K If you would like to become a beekeeper, contact the beekeeping association nearest to you for help and advice. ~ Eastern Highveld Beekeepers Association covers the East Rand and Mpumalanga, 18 www.sasmallholder.co.za