Roaming cattle remain an N2 hazard

KNYSNA NEWS - An accident involving a car and a cow on the N2 near Brackenhill has renewed concerns about the ongoing danger posed by roaming cattle on major roads between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay.

This incident, which occurred at about 20:30 on Wednesday 24 June, caused minor injuries to the 23-year-old Deveigon Hendricks from Hornlee and saw his car being written off.

Hendricks was returning home from rugby practice in Plettenberg Bay when the cow reportedly wandered onto the highway, leaving him with little time to avoid a collision.

While Hendricks escaped with relatively minor injuries, his father, Izak (59), says the incident could easily have had far more tragic consequences.

Calls for accountability

According to Izak, the crash highlights what he believes is a long-standing problem that authorities have failed to address adequately.

He questioned why cattle owners are not being held accountable when their livestock are found roaming on public roads, particularly on busy highways where the risk to motorists is significantly higher.

“The car has been written off by insurance, and yes, I can claim from insurance, but this is insurance that I have been paying for,” he said. “So the authorities and cattle owners run scot-free while we are left with the costs. This is unacceptable.”

Izak believes stronger enforcement is needed, including warning signs in known hotspot areas, stricter action against livestock owners, and the impounding of cattle found wandering on public roads.

Another cow crossed the highway

Adding to the family’s frustration was what they had witnessed while the emergency services were attending to the crash.

“What was so alarming to see was that while my son was giving his statement and the accident scene was being cleared, yet another cow was crossing the N2 highway in full view of the ambulance services, the police and law enforcement on the scene,” Izak said.

The family believes the incident demonstrates that the problem extends beyond a single stray animal and requires urgent intervention before more lives are placed at risk.

Municipality implementing measures

These concerns are mounting despite the Knysna Municipality previously outlining some measures aimed at tackling the persistent problem of roaming livestock.

As Knysna-Plett Herald had reported on 16 October last year, the director of community services, Johnny Douglas, said interim control measures had been implemented while longer-term solutions were being developed through a dedicated livestock task team.

Douglas said the municipality was finalising the process to begin officially impounding stray livestock.

At the time, a request for quotation (RFQ) was in the pipeline to appoint a service provider, while discussions were also being held with the Bitou Municipality regarding the use of a livestock trailer and with the SPCA George on animal handling procedures.

Pending the implementation of a formal impoundment system, stray cattle are being temporarily housed at Heidevallei for up to 48 hours. Identified owners are fined R1 000, and residents are encouraged to report roaming livestock through the local fire station.

The municipality also established a livestock task team comprising municipal officials, police, agriculture representatives and local farmers.

The task team has been working to identify suitable grazing land, establish the temporary holding facility in Heide Valley and develop a livestock ownership register to improve accountability.

Consultations with provincial and national government departments are also planned to explore the establishment of commonage land, while public engagement initiatives aim to support small-scale farmers through training, animal identification and access to resources.

The municipality has maintained that it has the legal authority to impound stray livestock under its by-laws, and says it remains committed to balancing enforcement with sustainable, community-based solutions.

Ongoing concern

Despite these interventions, the residents continue to report cattle roaming along sections of the N2 and other major roads in Knysna CBD and surrounds, raising concerns that more serious or even fatal collisions could occur.

The Hendricks family is now calling on the authorities to accelerate the implementation of these measures and ensure that livestock owners are held accountable before the next motorist loses their life.

Another collision reported

In a separate incident on Saturday 4 July, another motorist, JH Loots, said his vehicle was written off after colliding with a cow on the N2 near the Buffelsbaai turn-off.

Loots said the incident was reported to Knysna SAPS and questioned who should be held accountable for roaming livestock on the national road.

"My car was wrecked on Saturday evening after striking a cow on the N2 at the Buffelsbaai turn-off. The police on the scene seemed to know who the owner of the rogue animals is.

Who do I go and lay a charge against? Law enforcement, as it is their duty to keep roads safe and not only issue easy speeding fines? I want to take on whoever is responsible for this not happening. Or do we just complain and wait for someone to die?" he said.

The incident comes amid growing concern over roaming livestock on the N2 following a number of collisions in the Knysna area, with motorists renewing calls for authorities and livestock owners to take urgent action to prevent further crashes.

At the time of going to press, no official comment had been received from the police.

JH Loots' vehicle following the crash on Saturday 4 July near Buffelsbay turn-off. Photo: JH Loots