The DA condemns the Free State Government supported animal abuse
29 August 2019
The DA strongly condemns the animal abuse taking place at Free State Provincial Government supported agricultural and agri-processing projects.
The conviction of a manager at the Thaba Nchu abattoir for animal abuse on Tuesday after charges lodged by the SPCA in 2018 is a victory for animal welfare. During an inspection at the facility in 2018, the SPCA found animals being killed with a blunt knife and a faulty bolt gun. A cow had to be shot five times with this gun before dying and another cow only died after the sixth attempt to kill it with the blunt knife. Pigs were also found in squalid conditions and were injuring each other.
The Free State Provincial Government that supports this project must be held accountable for this abuse. Although animals at abattoirs have no rights, this is clearly an animal welfare issue.
The DA has raised the issue of animal rights and animal welfare previously in the Free State Legislature and a resolution on animal rights introduced by the Free State was passed by the DA’s federal Council. The DA has been vocal in the Legislature about the welfare of wildlife, especially in the lion industry, as well as domestic farm and other animals.