At Niani, outside Musina, in Limpopo, farmers and residents, are worried that elephants migrating from Zimbabwe and Botswana are causing destruction in the area.
The elephants have been wrecking havoc on farms, ravaging crops and infrastructure at farms along the Limpopo River over the past weeks.
A member of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was killed by a herd of elephants while on border patrol near Madimbo in July.
Samuel Nembahe, Livestock farmer, says he and his farm workers recently had to vacate the area when a herd of elephants invaded their farm.
Nembahe said: “It really worries me, when they come here, they may infect our animals with diseases, and this is our business. We sell the cattle to make ends meet. If we have to close down due to elephant invasion, it is a serious problem.”
Hitekani Magwedze, the Environment Department’s spox, urged members of the public not to confront the elephants.
Magwedze said: “Migration is a natural process, but we would like to caution people in and around the Niani area to be extremely alert when they go to the veld to collect wood or are in open spaces.
“We advise them not to follow our rangers to behold the beauty of these animals. We also warn them against taking pictures of them.”
