Irrate farmer wants answers over lost sheep

Eastern Cape sheep farmer Billy Schoeman has expressed frustration at the lack of response from SANParks and the SA Police Service following his complaints that both he and his neighbour lost sheep during the time builders were erecting a new game-proof boundary fence between his farm and the Mountain Zebra National Park. Issue Date: 16 February 2007

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Eastern Cape sheep farmer Billy Schoeman has expressed frustration at the lack of response from SANParks and the SA Police Service following his complaints that both he and his neighbour lost sheep during the time builders were erecting a new game-proof boundary fence between his farm and the Mountain Zebra National Park.

Schoeman claims he lost 29 long-wool, pregnant sheep in a mountain camp where the fence was being erected. “I found remains of slaughtered sheep there as well as bits of wool on top of the 2,5m posts, indicating that sheep were thrown over the top wire. My neighbour lost 15 sheep more or less at the same time,” he said. “All SANParks will say is the alleged theft did not take place on their property and that the matter is in the hands of the police who, of course, have made no progress with the case,” he said.

On further investigation, Schoeman discovered evidence of shoddy workmanship and waste. “The fence builders were obviously not doing a good job. There are slack anchor wires, corner posts are out of alignment and cut-off pieces are lying around all over. It would appear that, instead of digging the holes deep enough for the poles, they simply cut off the tops.

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Schoeman said the fence will not keep animals, including predators, in or out. “I’d advise farmers who border on to monitor any fence building very carefully – or else encounter severe problems at a later stage.”

However, Johan de Klerk, head ranger at the Zebra Park, said he trusts the contractor. “We have used him for years without any trouble. Besides, we don’t pay for any fence work before thoroughly inspecting for faults. The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism also has to check and okay the fence before any payment is made,” he told Farmer’s Weekly. – Roelof Bezuidenhout