Free-roaming elephants cause problems in Manguzi
One resident, Muzuwenkosi Dlamini (45), said the main problem is that no one is safe as the elephants move among their homesteads and the community feels unsafe
RESIDENTS of the eMfihlweni area under the Tembe Tribal Authority in Manguzi, say they live in fear as scores of elephants are seen roaming freely in the area.
The residents claim the elephants have caused massive damage to their crops.
One resident, Muzuwenkosi Dlamini (45), said the main problem is that no one is safe as the elephants move among their homesteads and the community feels unsafe.
‘We have reported the matter to the iZinduna, but nothing is being done. This problem is not new; it began a long time ago,’ Dlamini said.
Inkosi Mabhudu Tembe said the issue arose five years ago, and he believes that the elephants come from Mozambique and cross the border.
‘They are obviously in search of food. I also believe that when they cross the border they pick up the scent of elephants in the nearby game reserve (Tembe Elephant Park) and their movements result in the community’s crops being destroyed.
‘We have urged residents not to interfere with them because they are very dangerous.
‘We have been lucky so far that no one has been attacked. KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife has put down about 13 of them, but the problem still persists,’ Tembe said.
Ezemvelo spokesperson, Musa Mntambo, said they were not aware of the problems caused by ‘stray’ elephants from Mozambique.
‘It is true that such incidents occurred in the past where elephants from Mozambique have been found within our borders.
‘We attended to those complaints and solved them. We urged the community to inform us when they again see such elephants in their area,’ Mntambo said.
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