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CSC commissioner sues villagers
14 May 2016 at 04:23hrs | Views
CIVIL Service Commissioner Clara Siphiwe Nondo has won $1,500 compensation from five villagers in Mangwe who drove their cattle to graze on her farm.
Nondo told Plumtree magistrate, Livard Philemon that a total of 50 head of cattle belonging to villagers at neighbouring homesteads consumed grass that was meant for her own herd.
She said of the 50 beasts that illegally grazed on her farm in Mangwe District, two belonged to Lennos Ndlovu and Tatenda Ncube while 10 belonged to Norman Dliwayo, 12 belonged to Robert Ncube and 16 belonged to Brian Ndlovu.
Philemon ordered the five farmers to each pay $37,50 per animal that strayed into Nondo's field.
"Lennos Ndlovu and Tatenda Ndlovu will each pay $37,50 towards compensating Nondo, Norman Dliwayo will pay $375, Robert Ncube will pay $450 and Brian Ndlovu will pay $600 to the complainant," he said.
Nondo told the court that the cattle grazed in her fields for two days and that damage suffered was worth $1,500.
She said during the process she was forced to buy supplementary feed for her own livestock causing her to incur more costs.
"It's not the first time that these cattle have strayed into my farm. My farm was fully fenced but somehow their cattle made their way into my farm and feasted on grass that was meant for my livestock.
"I lost a lot of money while trying to buy supplementary feed for my cattle and I demand full compensation for my loss. The 50 cattle that strayed into my farm grazed on three quarters of green grass that was sprouting in my grazing area," she said.
The five farmers who admitted that their cattle had strayed into Nondo's field during a pre-hearing trial disputed that their animals grazed on her grass.
They accused the woman of exaggerating the number of cattle that had strayed into her farm. The farmers said Nondo's farm was not secured with a perimeter fence.
Brian told the court that only four of his cattle strayed into Nondo's farm and not 16 while Dliwayo claimed that only five cattle strayed instead of 12. He also pointed out that the cattle had strayed into the farm but did not eat any grass as it had not yet sprouted because of poor rains.
"I want to know how Nondo arrived at $1,500 because she's merely trying to rob us of our money for no apparent reason. She's exaggerating the extent of damage and she's misrepresenting facts," said Dliwayo.
Nondo told Plumtree magistrate, Livard Philemon that a total of 50 head of cattle belonging to villagers at neighbouring homesteads consumed grass that was meant for her own herd.
She said of the 50 beasts that illegally grazed on her farm in Mangwe District, two belonged to Lennos Ndlovu and Tatenda Ncube while 10 belonged to Norman Dliwayo, 12 belonged to Robert Ncube and 16 belonged to Brian Ndlovu.
Philemon ordered the five farmers to each pay $37,50 per animal that strayed into Nondo's field.
"Lennos Ndlovu and Tatenda Ndlovu will each pay $37,50 towards compensating Nondo, Norman Dliwayo will pay $375, Robert Ncube will pay $450 and Brian Ndlovu will pay $600 to the complainant," he said.
Nondo told the court that the cattle grazed in her fields for two days and that damage suffered was worth $1,500.
She said during the process she was forced to buy supplementary feed for her own livestock causing her to incur more costs.
"I lost a lot of money while trying to buy supplementary feed for my cattle and I demand full compensation for my loss. The 50 cattle that strayed into my farm grazed on three quarters of green grass that was sprouting in my grazing area," she said.
The five farmers who admitted that their cattle had strayed into Nondo's field during a pre-hearing trial disputed that their animals grazed on her grass.
They accused the woman of exaggerating the number of cattle that had strayed into her farm. The farmers said Nondo's farm was not secured with a perimeter fence.
Brian told the court that only four of his cattle strayed into Nondo's farm and not 16 while Dliwayo claimed that only five cattle strayed instead of 12. He also pointed out that the cattle had strayed into the farm but did not eat any grass as it had not yet sprouted because of poor rains.
"I want to know how Nondo arrived at $1,500 because she's merely trying to rob us of our money for no apparent reason. She's exaggerating the extent of damage and she's misrepresenting facts," said Dliwayo.
Source - chronicle
