The recent drowning of a 5-year-old girl in a communal cattle plungedip has once again put the spotlight on the dangers these structures pose. Along with community education, one proposed solution is to replace them with spray tunnels.
By Lloyd Phillips, Senior Journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
The police in Ndwedwe, KwaZulu-Natal, are investigating the death of a 5-year-old girl who reportedly fell into a communal cattle plunge dip and drowned.
Reaction officers of the private security and emergency services company Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) were called to the Ntapuka settlement on Friday afternoon when the child could not be found.
According to RUSA, “It was alleged that the girl, accompanied by two friends, ventured near the plunge dip and descended the stairs leading into it. It remains unclear whether she accidentally slipped or encountered difficulties that prevented her from climbing back to safety. Her friends quickly alerted community members, sparking an urgent search effort. They drained half the chemical mixture from the plunge dip, but were still unable to locate the drowned minor.”
A team of RUSA reaction officers and paramedics dispatched to the scene continued the search in the plunge dip and eventually recovered the girl’s body.
The Dangers of Plunge dips
An internet search of reports suggests that at least six children have drowned in livestock plunge dips in South Africa over the past 15 years.
There are an estimated 3 500 to 4 500 communal plunge dips and 1 000 to 1 500 private plunge dips in the country. These essential structures are used to combat external parasites such as ticks on livestock. Plunge dips are deep enough to fully submerge adult cattle for effective parasite control.
The chemical dip is often left in the plunge dip between treatments, and rain can increase the levels.
Call for a Safer Alternative
Planjwdips are supposed to be secure, but maintaining this is difficult in communal areas, says Gama Phahla, the chairperson of the Red Meat Commodity Chamber of the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (AFASA), of which many members are communal livestock owners. Communal plunge dips are used by various livestock owners, he says, and are usually easily accessible. Some are well maintained, and others are not.
AFASA is calling on government, which funds most communal plunge dips, to replace them with much safer spray tunnels, and is encouraging its members to make the switch.
Phahla said he was deeply saddened by the child’s death and extended his condolences to the family. He urged livestock owners and community members to teach children from an early age about the dangers of plunge dips.
