CAPE TOWN - The Eastern Cape government has donated R950 000 towards development of the Sompondo Land Care project - located in the drought ridden Alice town.
The Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform joined forces with the the Department of Forestry and Fisheries in supporting Sompondo - a project aimed at conserving livestock grazing fields, prevent livestock theft and protect wetlands.
MEC for the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Mlibo Qoboshiyane said, "Out of the budget of R11.8-million we have set aside R950,000 to help fence the grazing camps, ensuring that during the grazing period, camps are not depleted leaving livestock with nothing to graze on".
Qoboshiyane added that further support to the project will see it turned into world class facility and breed high quality livestock worth selling at premium prices.
Delighted local who owns livestock in the area, Mninawa Mayekiso said, "It's been a year since we have been waiting for fencing – now we have it. We no longer worry about our livestock being stolen or them going into our mealie fields".
The department says 212 hectares of land have already been fenced and 482 more will be fenced in the 2017/2018 financial year.
Mhlobo Mbane of the National Emerging Organic Vegetable Production initiative has revealed that the project employed 40 community members for various activities in the community including a poultry project funded by Pick & n Pay to the tune of R260 000.