EASTERN CAPE - SPCA TO LAY CHARGES AGAINST THOSE INVOLVED IN EXPORTATION OF MORE THAN 50 000 SHEEP TO MIDDLE EAST

The National Council of SPCAs is expected to lay criminal charges against those involved in the exportation of at least 50 000 sheep destined for the Middle East.

"Inspectors are at the feedlot in Berlin and at the East London Harbour. Cruel handling, stocking concerns and unsheared animals have been observed. These are contraventions of both the Animals Protection Act No 71 of 1962, and the OIE standards which the exporters were ordered to adhere to by the High Court last week," said Farm Animal Protection Unit Manager at the NSPCA, Grace De Lange.

She said the loading started on Sunday morning and NSCPA inspectors witnessed how the sheep here handled.

"Handlers employed by Al Mawashi and KLTT kicked and dragged the sheep by the ears, and punched sheep in the face in front of our inspectors. This happened at both the feedlot and the harbour. Several warnings have been issued," De Lange claimed.

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She further claimed that the sheep had not been sheared.

"This at a time of the year when they are travelling into excessive heat. Sheep are also overweight and already lethargic and are being stuffed into pens on the ship. The exporters claim that they will be reshuffled en route to Kuwait," De Lange said.

She said the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform & Rural Development was ordered by the High Court to oversee the process.

"Yet, they felt it appropriate to allocate two newly qualified veterinarians to control an operation of this magnitude. It has mainly been left to the expertise of the NSPCA to intervene when the Animals Protection Act and OIE standards are being contravened," she said.

De Lange added that while NSPCA inspectors have been at the coal face, and the sheep have been treated cruelly, the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development & Agrarian Reform held a celebratory function in East London.

"MEC Nomakhosazana Meth and the department revered this brutal trade. Al Mawashi also obtained a permit for essential services, allowing them to load sheep throughout the night – we question why this has been considered necessary," she said.

De Lange said some of the handlers already faced charges of animal cruelty.

via - IOL