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he or she is the owner of the
animal.”
Unfortunately, many
smallholders do not comply
with the law on identification
of their livestock. If you have
applied for and been
allocated an identification
mark and have branded or
tattooed your animals with
this identification mark, it will
be possible for the pound
master to trace you and
notify you that your animal is
in the pound.
The same will apply if your
dog or cat is impounded. If
you have your details on the
animal's collar or it is
microchipped, you can be
notified of the whereabouts
of the pet.
An owner claiming an
impounded animal must pay
the pound master the pound
fees determined by the
municipality, before the
animal will be released.
If an impounded animal is
not claimed within seven
days after the day on which
the animal was impounded,
the pound master may sell or
destroy the animal or cause
the animal to be sold or
destroyed in the manner
prescribed in the Animals
Protection Act.
When it comes to moving an
animal or group of animals
from one place to another,
the person who drives a herd
is seen as the driver of a
vehicle.
According to Regulation 313
of the National Road Traffic
Act, “driver” means any
person who drives or
attempts to drive any vehicle
or who rides or attempts to
ride any pedal cycle or who
leads any draught, pack or
saddle animal or herd or
flock of animals”.
If a member of your staff is
taking your animals on the
road, make sure that he or
she understands the traffic
rules and will never leave the
animals unattended.
According to the same
regulation, “no person shall
leave or allow any bovine
LIVESTOCK
animal which is being driven
animal, horse, ass, mule,
sheep, goat, pig or ostrich to
be on any section of a public
road where that section is
fenced or in any other
manner closed along both
sides, and no person shall
leave such animal in a place
from where it may stray onto
such section of a public
road.”
This does not apply to “any
animal which is being ridden
or is being used to draw a
vehicle along a public road”.
It also does not apply to “any
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from one place to another in
such manner as not to
constitute a source of danger
or injury to any person or
vehicle using such road.” In
this case the driver must
display a large red flag and
where there are more than
ten animals one person
carrying a flag should
precede the animals and
another should walk behind
them, also carrying a red
cloth.
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