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Release of Impounded Animals Now Happens Even on Weekends, Holidays

…Municipality introduces MoMo, e-Mali payment method for pound transactions

One of the requirements that come with the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System is continual improvement in the organisation’s operational processes for purposes of improved customer experience. In essence, the system requires that the organisation constantly reviews its service delivery processes, identifies areas of improvement and implement innovative solutions. The Municipal Council of Manzini, an ISO 9001:2015 certified Municipality, always strives to live up to this expectation. This requirement resonates with the Municipality’s vision of being “a vibrant African city that innovatively provides quality service and economic opportunities to its stakeholders”. One of the service gaps that have been identified pertains to the release of impounded animals to their owners. Since the Municipality operates from Monday to Friday, with the Rates Hall also operating on Saturdays until 12noon, it has all along been difficult for livestock owners to pay the requisite release fees and claim back their impounded animals on weekends (after 12noon on Saturdays) and public holidays.

This situation caused frustration to the livestock farmers; moreso because the payable fees (which are charged per day spent at the animal pound) kept on accumulating despite the livestock owners being ready to pay and claim back their animals. In view of the above scenario, the Municipality has introduced a MTN Mobile Money and Eswatini e-Mali payment method for the release of impounded animals. This digital payment method makes it possible for payment of release fees to be made any day, anytime and anywhere; and for impounded animals to be released any day of the week. Some livestock farmers are already utilizing this new payment method and have expressed gratitude to the Municipality for introducing a convenient payment method. Through this system, they are now also able to pay and claim back their impounded animals even after work hours (before 5:30pm as the Pound Act, 1966 does not permit the release of impounded animals after sunset). More livestock farmers are urged to make use of this convenient payment method. The following is a step-by-step guide on how to make payment;

…RELEASE FEES FOR IMPOUNDED ANIMALS

The following are the release fees for impounded animals at the Manzini Municipal Pound. Some of the animals are brought to the pound by municipal rangers whilst others are brought in by Eswatini Road Safety;

…CATTLE, DONKEYS, GOATS NOT ALLOWED IN THE CITY: 858 IMPOUNDED LAST YEAR ALONE

Keeping or grazing of livestock in the City of Manzini, including townships, is an offence. When found, the animals are driven away and impounded in the Municipal Pound. There are applicable fees for their release. Section 46, Part (vii) of the Pound Act, 1966 states: “A police officer or a person authorized by the local authority concerned may impound livestock found straying on the street or open place in an urban area. Livestock owners/claimants are liable for payment for all costs incurred whilst stock is under pound custody. Charges include driving fees, feeding fees, treatment fees”. Last year alone, a total of 858 cows got impounded at the Manzini Municipal Pound. The pound is situated on farm 1231, North of Manzini Golf Course Cemetery near Madonsa. Of these, 412 were collected within the urban area; and the remaining 446 were from outside the city. Noteworthy is that the animals that are found grazing in the city are from the neighbouring areas outside the city. As a result, about two weeks ago the Municipal Council of Manzini facilitated a workshop for livestock farmers within the peri-urban areas of the city for purposes of sensitizing them against allowing their animals to graze within the city. The workshop was also attended by officials from the Ministry of Agriculture Veterinary Section, Ministry of Public Works and Transport Road Safety Section, Royal Eswatini Police Anti-Stock Theft Unit.  The following pictures were taken during the workshop…

DID YOU KNOW?

• It is possible to avoid accumulation of paid parking fees.
• Each time you park, try to pay enough for the period you will occupy the parking bay.
• Once you occupy the parking bay beyond the time paid for, make sure you top-up with the parking marshal before driving off. This is applicable to those using the Umlamuleli Prepaid Parking Card and those paying in cash.

If you happen to occupy the parking bay before the start of the paid parking hours (8am from Monday to Saturday) and keep your vehicle in occupation of the bay into the paid parking operating hours, please approach the parking marshal and pay before driving off. If the vehicle remained in occupation of the parking bay beyond the paid parking operating hours (5pm on weekdays and 2pm on Saturdays) make sure to approach any parking marshal the next day of paid parking operation and pay. The vehicle is logged in and the fees accumulate for the period parked during the paid parking operation hours.