Export horror continues
Export horror continues
Since 17th July 2023 teams of Inspectors have been in the Eastern Cape inspecting another shipment of 49 000 animals destined for export by sea, being housed at the Page Farming Trust feedlot, Eastern Cape and exported by Al Mawashi and Livestock Transport and Trading Company PSC (KLTT), fully supported by the SA Government and the Red Meat Industry Forum.
They have not adhered to the Governments “Guidelines for the Exportation of Live Animals by Sea”. At the feedlot the Inspectors found significant animal welfare concerns including: the pelleted food for the sheep had run out; obviously pregnant ewes, new-born lambs from those sheep who had given birth as well as aborted young, they had not been scanned to determine pregnancy. Other compromised animals including lame sheep, sheep with foot rot, pink eye throughout the pens and emaciated and moribund sheep.
The Government, State Veterinary Department failed to uphold their ‘Guidelines’, the Exporter failed to adhere the ‘Guidelines’ and still the exporter advised us, that regardless, loading would commence on 20 July 2023 onto the Al Messilah vessel.
In this dire situation, to halt the loading of animals until the guidelines were adhered to, on 19/7/2023 the NSPCA applied for an Urgent High Court Interdict in the Grahamstown High Court. Despite these appalling conditions of the animals at the feedlot and a well set out case, the Acting Judge did not hear the merits of the matter and only heard argument on urgency. The loading was then permitted to commence on 20/7/2023.
Regardless of enormous challenges and personal sacrifice, the NSPCA Inspectors are still at the feedlot and harbour, doing their utmost to prevent suffering to these animals. It has taken enormous physical and mental toll on the 16 inspectors who have been working 12 hours daily, and yet we still have no confirmed departure date. “The accommodation, fuel and welfare costs of keeping the Inspectorate team on site are escalating daily. But while these animals are on South African soil, we will not leave them” Marcelle Meredith, Executive Director, NSPCA.
The NSPCA has pending cruelty cases and while waiting for the cases to be heard in court the suffering is ongoing. Please support us in ending the cruelty once and for all. Further updates to follow.
Source: SPCA
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