MAKHADO – If you want to celebrate the festive season with your spouse, friends and relatives, when driving along the N1 road around Botlokwa, drive slowly and with care.

As there is no fence to protect the cattle from grazing and crossing the busy road, subsistence farmers around the settlement also do not keep their cattle alway from the N1.

According to the spokesperson for the Department of Transport, Ms Phuthi Mabelebele, her depart-ment has been requesting farmers around that area on several occasions to ensure that their animals are grazing off the road with someone present to ensure that they are not getting close to the road.

When asked who is responsible for erecting the fence, Mabelebele said it depends on the area. In some instances, the local authorities are responsible, but the gravity of the matter lay with the subsistence farmers to be responsible for their cattle. “We will impound all stray animals that can be found on the road.” Mabelebele further claimed that road safety officials have already been delegated to visit the area, so as to conduct negotiations and explain the importance of safety measures on the roads with the community members of Botlokwa. “Our appeal as the department to motorists is that, as you approach the area, there are speed limits at that road that always dictate to people to drive slowly and abide by all roads regulations. To our farmers we are saying, we don’t want to clash with you, ensure that you take your animals off the road, take them to graze in a safe place as we don’t want to lose more lives through this kind of negligence,” she said.