Union will act after scores of SANDF horses left to starve
THE South African National Defence Union said it will pursue the maltreatment of horses by the military‚ following an announcement by the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) that it intends taking criminal action after the horses were found to be starving.
The union’s national secretary Pikkie Greeff said yesterday: “Outright shame on SANDF’s Specialised Infantry Capability (Saasic) that it so neglected its horses that 25 had to be put down.
“Support 100% charges against command structure of unit! It’s not only neglect of animals‚ it’s wilful dereliction of military resources.”
NSPCA inspectors said they were horrified to discover that horses in the care of the unit were starving to death.
Twenty-five horses on the army base were in such an emaciated condition or compromised state of health that to prevent their further suffering‚ they had to be destroyed‚ the animal welfare organisation said.
NSPCA executive director Marcelle Meredith said in 2013 the SANDF and NSPCA entered into a Memorandum of Understanding formally signed in May 2016.
She accused the SANDF of continually reneging on the agreement‚ “with regard to their responsibilities to adequately care for the animals in their control”‚ particularly the unit meant to be caring for the horses.
“Their failure to secure suitably qualified personnel or adequate facilities‚ combined with a non-empathetic infrastructure that has repeatedly failed the animals in their care‚ resulting in a complete breakdown in the welfare conditions afforded to the horses,” Meredith said.
“The main herd had no food‚ they had no other option but to eat soil and their own faeces.”
She said food was provided to the horses only after the NSPCA forced the unit into taking emergency action to secure adequate feed for the animals.
Further investigation revealed that prior to this inspection the Military Veterinary Institute (MVI) had already had to step in and euthanase starving horses and treat others as a result of ongoing neglect‚ Meredith said.
The NSPCA remains concerned about the welfare of the horses.
She said a further 169 horses were being kept on the Potchefstroom property in the North West province‚ “which is overstocked‚ has inadequate shelter and is a hazardous environment for these animals”.
The NSPCA said it intended to continually check on the remaining horses to ensure they were being adequately cared for‚ and would be laying criminal charges against those responsible for the suffering of the horses.
Ultimately‚ it wanted the government to uphold the law.
Greg Volkwyn @GregVolkwyn reacted to the Sandu post on social media by saying: “I was in this unit in 1978-79. We were immensely passionate about our horses and proud of our unit.
“This is a reflection on poor leadership.” – TimesLIVE