Sleepless nights in Sikwane as goats wreak havoc
Residents of Sikwane say they are tired and frustrated as stray goats continue to disturb their daily lives and damage property. Residents complain that the goats are completely out of control, breaking fences, destroying gardens, climbing onto parked cars, and opening water taps, leaving water running for hours. Some residents say this has led to high water bills.
“We are not sleeping at night, the goats make noise, knock over bins, and open taps. We wake up to flooded yards and damaged property,” a resident said. Another said the goats now sleep on top of their car.
“Last week, I found hoof marks and scratches on the bonnet. These goats have no fear,” he said. Some residents say the goats sleep on their verandas, leaving behind a mess. “Every morning, I clean up goat droppings from my doorstep. It is disgusting,” another said. With tempers flaring, others have reportedly threatened to poison the animals, a move that has drawn strong warnings from the village chief, Kgosi Seabelo Karibotsa Pilane.
“I have heard people talking about using fabric softener in water to poison the goats. That is wrong and illegal, you cannot kill someone else’s animals. If you have a complaint, catch the goats, call the owner, and report the matter to the Kgotla,” Kgosi Pilane advised. The chief clarified thata the law does not allow residents to keep goats within the village, adding that the animals must be controlled and not allowed to cause trouble for others. Area Councillor, Anthony Rasetshwane, said he has received many complaints.
“We held a Kgotla meeting to address this issue. We hope those who keep goats will start taking responsibility to avoid further conflicts,” the councillor said. Residents, however, are running out of patience. “We are not free anymore, the goats have taken over the village. If this continues, we do not know what else to do,” a worried resident said.