NSPCA vows to put stop to ‘death ships’

The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) is to take legal action over the controversial export by ship of an estimated 57‚000 sheep destined for the Middle East from the East London harbour last week.

The sheep‚ being shipped to Kuwait by Middle East import company Al Mawashi on board the Al-Shuwaikh‚ are destined for what the NSPCA calls inhumane slaughter.

The NSPCA said it a statement on Saturday it would be laying charges in terms of the Animal Protection Act against the government‚ including the provincial government.

It said it would also lay animal cruelty charges‚ assault and obstruction charges against personnel who handled the animals inhumanely‚ those who assaulted and hindered NSPCA inspectors‚ and personnel of Al Mawashi.

“Furthermore‚ the NSPCA will take the necessary legal action to ensure there is an end to the unacceptable and unnecessary cruelty involved in the live export trade‚” NSPCA spokesperson Meg Wilson said.

“Seeing the suffering of these sheep even before their departure has been heartbreaking‚ but it has also affirmed our determination.

“We may have lost this battle, but we have not lost the war. We will do everything in our power to ensure that no animal is ever loaded on board these death ships again.”

Wilson said department of agriculture veterinary public health director Dr Mphane Molefe had accompanied the NSPCA’s vet and a senior inspector on an inspection on October 3 and appeared to be horrified at the conditions on board the ship. –