Cape of Good Hope SPCA intervenes in illegal sheep transport
Trailer overloaded with sheep was stopped by law enforcement officers in Philippi.
Image: Cape of Good Hope SPCA
Inspectors from the Cape of Good Hope SPCA together with the City of Cape Town’s Animal Control Unit Auxiliary officers intervened in two cases of cruelty involving the illegal transport of sheep for traditional purposes on Sunday morning in Phillippi.
Cape of Good Hope SPCA chief inspector Jaco Pieterse said inspectors were patrolling the area when they came across the sheep intended for cultural slaughtering.
Inspectors found one trailer "dangerously" overloaded with seven sheep, their legs tightly bound, piled on top of one another, while another trailer carried four sheep, also with legs bound, one with a severe, burst, and infected eye injury.
“The stench was overwhelming. Both trailers were in direct violation of the Animals Protection Act, and one driver who was unlicensed, along with the trailer was fined by Law Enforcement. The sheep were seized by our inspectors and are now in the safe care of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA.
"All of the animals were destined for religious slaughter, but cruelty is never justified, no matter the context. We have a legal and moral duty to act and we will continue to do so. No animal deserves to suffer.”
Pieterse said one vehicle was intended for qurbani and the other vehicle was for cultural slaughtering.
“One of the sheep had to be humanely destroyed because his condition was of such a state that medical intervention was not viable. The rest of the sheep were in acceptable condition, however, the concerns do not relate to their conditions per se but rather the inhumane transportation."
He said that the owners were fined but not for animal cruelty.
“These matters must go to court, where a magistrate will decide on the outcome. A fine could be imposed up to R40 000 and/or 12 months imprisonment.”
The SPCA said that transporting animals must comply with the South African National Standard Act 1488:2014 "Humane Transportation of Livestock by Road", which requires no overloading of trailers, vehicles suitable for the species and no tethering of animals to name a few.
Cape Argus