MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) - Wire snares set in the park in President Steyn Street caught a small dachshund, and 25 other snares were found there, alarming the community that the problem of illegal squatters is now on their doorstep.

Heartbreaking howls throughout the weekend caught the attention of the Slabberts residing at the dead end of President Steyn Street. On Saturday (18th) they could not take it any more and Altus Slabbert and his son Snyman chopped open the bush in the park across the street to rescue a dog trapped in a wire snare. Karen Slabbert cared for the black and brown dachshund the rest of the weekend. The dog was fortunately unhurt “because the wire snare was not set properly,” said Karen.

She said that the male dog looked well cared for and can be identified by the fact that it has only one testicle. The owner can fetch it at the SPCA.

“My large dogs will devour this little one, so I cannot keep it,” Karen said. She went to visit the dachshund at the local SPCA on Monday.

Mrs Bea Reimer from the SPCA said that they searched the park and found 25 wire snares on Tuesday and Wednesday last week. Messrs Carel van der Walt and Joseph Ndou had to creep under the bushes to look for snares.

“The bushes are very dense. I think we have found enough evidence that people are sleeping there. We found fires, old tattered clothes, wire snares and the skeletons of deer that were killed in the traps,” said Mr Van der Walt.

Mrs Reimer said that the situation was getting out of hand. It is not the job of the SPCA to clear bushes and collect snares. She added that they detest the setting of snares, but that dog owners should help by keeping their animals in their yards. Mr Van der Walt said that he would take the matter up with the SAPS.

A concerned resident said that the municipality should be more involved in the environment of the town.

“They should not just let go and let everything run its course. If there are illegal squatters, the municipality should put pressure on the police to round them up,” the resident said.

Mr Masindi Mapholi, Director of Technical Services of the Makhado Municipality, said that the reducing of the overgrowth of bushes is not normally done in wintertime. The maintenance of the parks falls under his department. Mr Mapholi invited members of the community to give them a call and inform them of matters that need attention. Concerning the general problem of illegal immigrants, Mr Mapholi said that the municipality “has requested the office of the MEC for Security to intervene”. This was done at the end of May. Mapholi said that he would notify Community Services of the Municipality under which security matters fall that the problem of illegal squatters in the parks of the town is escalating.

While the little dachshund is waiting for its owner to come and collect it, another resident of President Steyn Street last Wednesday discovered that the rear window of his vehicle had been removed. Mr and Mrs Kloppers informed the police. They added that their watchdog had been stolen.