Lions are once again terrorizing villages adjoining the Kruger Nation Park. Two of the villages currently being terrorized are Gawula and Mahlathi, outside Giyani.

It was reported that 57 cattle have been killed by lions - 25 at Gawula, while 32 were reportedly killed in Mahlathi Village - during the past few weeks. Mr Elias Baloyi, a cattle keeper and also a victim, said he had already lost five cattle because of the prowling lions and the government and the Kruger National Park authorities "are failing us, because when we asked permission to hunt the lions, they didn’t like it, but our cattle are being killed every day".

Mkhatshane Ngobeni, a headman in that village, where seven lions are reportedly on the prowl, said the problem is so serious that he is unable to cope with the number of complaints. "We have done all we could to compensate those who had lost their livestock, but the problem persists and you can’t compensate everyone," said Ngobeni. One lion was recently put down by rangers in his village.

The chairperson of the stock forum in the village, Mr Jack Mahumane, blames the government for not doing enough to curb the problem, and says the government knows about the problem, but nothing serious is being done. "Just today, I received a call from Miyexe Village, informing me about another cow found killed by lions. We can’t just fold our hands and hope the lions will stop devouring our livestock," he said

Limpopo Economic Affairs, Development and Tourism spokesman Lehlohonolo Masoga said the cattle farmers and cattle keepers have a right to kill any lions which are killing their cattle, "because the department has no laws which say we should carry the responsibility to compensate those who have lost their cattle because of lions."