LIVESTOCK roaming public roads in Limpopo are now required to wear reflective belts around their necks so that they can be easily spotted by drivers in the dark.

LIVESTOCK roaming public roads in Limpopo are now required to wear reflective belts around their necks so that they can be easily spotted by drivers in the dark.

Obed Langa, acting senior communications manager in the provincial department of roads and transport, said his department had already spent R5million on purchasing 50000 belts since December last year.

"We hand out three reflective belts for every 10 head of cattle in a kraal and we hope to cover 300000 during the current financial year," Langa said.

"We will extend the programme to donkeys as well because they are also a menace on our roads."

Once illuminated by a beam of light emitted from a vehicle, the belt around an animal's neck reflects the rays, enabling a driver to spot it from a distance of about 600 metres.

The belts are supplied by an entrepreneur who had been awarded a tender. The project is part of the road safety campaign aimed at curbing high rate of road accidents involving cattle and donkeys in the province, especially during the night, Langa said.

Kenny Mathivha, spokesperson for the department of agriculture, congratulated road safety officers for extending road safety campaigns to animals.

He said his department was ready to assist in the campaign if the department of roads and transport approached them.