Two cow crashes reported within an hour in Chris Hani

Another two vehicles hit cows within hours as district toll rises again

Two more vehicles have collided with cows on Eastern Cape roads within the space of a few hours, pushing the number of livestock-related crashes recorded by Komani News to alarming new levels.

The first incident occurred at around 17:56 on Monday, 6 July, on the R56 between Indwe and Dordrecht, where a red Isuzu D-Max collided with a cow approximately one kilometre outside Indwe.

The two men travelling in the bakkie escaped without injuries, although the damaged vehicle was left obstructing one lane of traffic on a bend in the road while emergency personnel waited for police to arrive.

Less than an hour later, at approximately 18:30, another vehicle struck a cow at Tambo Village between Komani and Whittlesea on the R67.

The vehicle involved was a Fidelity Services Group bakkie.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported in that collision either.

While both crashes ended without serious injuries, they have once again highlighted a growing problem that continues to plague roads across the Chris Hani District.

What was once seen as an occasional hazard has become an almost weekly occurrence.

Komani News has recorded the following livestock-related crashes since the beginning of June:

• 6 June – R61 near Tarkastad: Six people injured after a vehicle struck a cow.
• 7 June – N6 near Lesseyton: One person injured after another vehicle collided with a cow.
• 8 June – R61: One person injured in another livestock collision.
• 10 June – Near Komani: Three people injured after a vehicle struck a cow.
• 12 June – R67 near Tambo Village: Two people injured in a collision involving a cow.
• 14 June – R61: One woman killed and five other people injured when a taxi collided with a cow.
• 19 June – N6 near Lesseyton: Another cow collision was reported, although no injuries occurred.
• 27 June – R61 near Qombolo outside Cofimvaba: Five people injured after a vehicle struck a cow.
• 5 July – R61 outside Komani: One person injured and trapped after a Toyota Quantum collided with a cow.
• 6 July – R56 near Indwe: Two occupants escaped injury after an Isuzu D-Max struck a cow.
• 6 July – R67 at Tambo Village: A Fidelity bakkie collided with a cow, with no injuries reported.

With the two latest incidents now added to the list, Komani News has recorded at least 11 livestock-related crashes on district roads in just over a month.

Those crashes have left 24 people injured and claimed one life.

The collisions have been recorded on some of the region’s busiest roads, including the R61, R56, R67 and N6.

For many motorists travelling after sunset, encountering cattle standing in the road, grazing on the shoulder or suddenly emerging from the darkness has become an increasingly familiar sight.

Each crash leaves behind damaged vehicles, repair bills and shaken occupants.

Sometimes the outcome is far worse.

The woman who lost her life in the R61 taxi collision on 14 June never made it home.

The question now facing authorities, livestock owners and communities is becoming harder to ignore:

How many more vehicles must be wrecked, how many more people injured and how many more lives lost before roaming livestock on public roads is properly addressed?