Latest news with #DaybreakFarms
Daily Maverick
10 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
‘Reprehensible failure' — NSPCA files criminal charges against Daybreak Farms directors
The National Council of SPCAs has filed criminal charges against the board of directors of Daybreak Farms, following what it describes as one of the largest and most disturbing cases of animal cruelty in South African history. More than one million chickens died or suffered prolonged distress at Daybreak Farms amid what officials are calling a systemic collapse in basic animal care. The charges come after weeks of high-profile legal action, public outcry and disturbing revelations from multiple investigations into the company's broiler operations. The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) now seeks criminal accountability for what it describes as 'a grave and morally reprehensible failure'. The council's senior inspector Nazareth Appalsamy, who heads the Farm Animal Protection Unit, said the law compels the NSPCA to value every animal individually. 'To witness the suffering of one animal multiplied by a million is not just a disaster – it's a grave and morally reprehensible failure.' According to the NSPCA's formal statement released on Friday, on-site investigations revealed chickens suffering in scenes reminiscent of disaster zones: birds cannibalising one another, open wounds left untreated and animals too weak to move. The scale of neglect was matched only by the visible breakdown in operational control across Daybreak facilities. Photos taken during inspections – now widely circulated online – depict rows of emaciated birds crammed into overcrowded sheds, some lying motionless, others pecking desperately at carcasses. The NSPCA's evidence dossier reportedly contains documentation of mass starvation events, inadequate or absent veterinary oversight and intentional inhumane culling methods. 'This is not misfortune,' said one official. 'It's systemic abuse.' Court steps in On 23 May 2025, the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Johannesburg made an interim order compelling Daybreak to comply with urgent animal welfare directives. In a scathing ruling, the court stated: 'The urgency was necessitated by the collapse of Daybreak's responsibility to appropriately care for the chickens in their possession and under their control.' The court cited 'financial mismanagement of the available funds' by the company's leadership. As part of the judgment, Daybreak was ordered to cease inhumane culling immediately, provide adequate nutrition to all remaining birds, halt all new chick placements until the NSPCA deemed conditions appropriate and provide inspectors with full access and a comprehensive resolution plan. Despite the ruling, the NSPCA has warned that meaningful accountability remains elusive. Though the court awarded legal costs in their favour, the organisation now fears it may never recover those funds: shortly after the judgment, Daybreak announced it was entering voluntary business rescue proceedings. Business rescue In the eyes of many observers, Daybreak's move into business rescue – a legal process similar to bankruptcy protection – only deepened concerns over the company's transparency and financial conduct. As reported by Daily Maverick on 23 May, Daybreak's sudden shift into business rescue raised red flags about possible attempts to shield decision-makers from the full financial fallout of the crisis. The Public Investment Corporation (PIC), which owns a controlling stake in Daybreak, faced mounting pressure to explain how such a collapse was allowed to unfold on its watch. Daybreak's financial woes appear deeply intertwined with the animal welfare catastrophe. Feed shortages, for example, were not caused by logistical blockages but, according to the NSPCA, by a failure to allocate sufficient funds for procurement. As a result, birds were left to starve, and workers were forced to cull tens of thousands of chicks without the tools or training to do so humanely. Human costs Beyond the birds, human suffering has also come into focus. Daily Maverick's reporting from early May included interviews with Daybreak workers at its Delmas operation, who described despair, intimidation and, in some cases, retaliation for speaking out. Some workers at the farm told Daily Maverick they lack the necessary farming experience to help save the company. One employee told us: 'We didn't even know what to say anymore. You can't just keep quiet when you see animals suffering like this. But when we tried to raise it, it was like nobody at the top was listening.' Amid the scandal, board chairperson Bojane Segooa resigned and reportedly received a R625,000 payout. The timing of her departure – days after the high court's intervention – fuelled public anger. Though a new board has since been installed, many within the NSPCA and broader civil society remain sceptical that meaningful reform will occur. A crisis of governance Daybreak's collapse is more than an isolated corporate disaster – it is also a test of South Africa's welfare regulatory and enforcement systems. The NSPCA, which receives no government funding, has now spent more than R580,000 responding to the Daybreak emergency. These costs include transport, shelter setup, biosecurity measures and extensive staff hours. The organisation says it will continue to work with the South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority to ensure criminal charges are pursued. However, without government support or clear political backing, the path to justice remains uncertain. 'This cannot be swept under the rug,' said one inspector involved in the case. 'We are talking about a million sentient beings who suffered because no one took responsibility. If there are no consequences for this, what does that say about the value we place on life?' Public response Civil society organisations have begun to mobilise around the case. An open letter signed by 16 conservation and food justice groups was delivered to the agriculture minister last week, demanding that the state undertake a full audit of Daybreak's practices and provide emergency support to the NSPCA. The letter warns that, if ignored, 'this crisis will repeat itself – not just at Daybreak, but across an industry where enforcement is weak, funding is scarce and animals are treated as numbers on a balance sheet'. For the NSPCA, the criminal charges represent a turning point. After weeks of being on the defensive – rushing from farm to farm, providing aid to surviving animals and navigating legal landmines – it now seeks to push the matter into the courts. 'We owe it to these animals,' said Appalsamy. 'We owe it to the public. And we owe it to the future of farming in this country.' DM
IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
NSPCA takes action against Daybreak Farms over horrific mass animal welfare violations
NSPCA has laid criminal charges over 'million-bird massacre' at Daybreak Farms. Image: File The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) has laid criminal charges against the board of directors of Daybreak Farms, following what it has called one of South Africa's worst recorded mass animal welfare disasters, with over a million chickens dead or dying under alleged inhumane and unlawful conditions. The NSPCA confirmed on Thursday it had filed a criminal docket with police, accusing the poultry producer's leadership of gross negligence, systemic mismanagement, and multiple violations of the Animal Protection Act. In a damning statement, the organisation said its inspectors uncovered 'overwhelming evidence' of a total collapse in animal care across multiple Daybreak facilities. Chickens were allegedly found starving, suffering from untreated injuries, and in some cases, resorting to cannibalism due to extreme overcrowding and prolonged neglect. Video Player is loading. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading 'The law compels us to value every single animal individually,' said Senior Inspector Nazareth Appalsamy, manager of the NSPCA's Farm Animal Protection Unit. 'To witness the suffering of one animal multiplied by a million is not just a disaster, it's a grave and morally reprehensible failure.' Site visits by the NSPCA were described as harrowing. Inspectors reported scenes of mass death, with birds dying slow, painful deaths, others lying with gaping wounds, and many unable to move. The organisation has described the situation as a 'massacre'. The criminal complaint follows a recent Gauteng High Court ruling that made final an urgent interim order against Daybreak Farms. The court found that the company's leadership had 'failed in their legal duty of care' and cited 'financial mismanagement of the available funds,' which endangered the lives of the animals in their possession. 'The urgency arose from Daybreak's failure to care for the chickens in their possession,' the ruling stated. The final court order compels Daybreak to stop all inhumane culling, provide adequate feed and veterinary care, halt new chick placements unless the NSPCA deems it safe, and grant full access to its facilities for compliance monitoring. The company was also ordered to pay the NSPCA's legal costs. However, efforts to enforce the court's directives have been complicated by a new development. On May 20, 2025, Daybreak voluntarily entered business rescue proceedings, a move the NSPCA fears could obstruct both enforcement and the recovery of more than R580,000 it spent on emergency operations. 'This is not only a legal and ethical failure, but also a financial one,' said the NSPCA. 'Despite a High Court ruling in our favour, our ability to recover costs has been compromised by Daybreak's sudden entry into business rescue.' In response, Daybreak Foods issued a media statement confirming the appointment of veteran restructuring specialist Tebogo Maoto as its Senior Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP). Maoto, formally appointed on May 22, has been tasked with stabilising operations and developing a turnaround strategy. Daybreak's interim board chairperson, Dr Charlotte Nkuna, said: 'We welcome the appointment of the BRP as part of a collective effort, together with the Public Investment Corporation, to rescue the company and save approximately 2,800 jobs.' Under Section 133 of the Companies Act, Daybreak now benefits from a temporary legal moratorium that protects it from enforcement actions, while the BRP and board prepare a rescue plan addressing its financial crisis. The NSPCA, which depends on public donations and limited funding, is now appealing for urgent financial support to continue its monitoring and legal efforts. Operational costs continue to mount as inspectors remain on-site to oversee animal welfare and ensure compliance with the court's directives. 'We urgently appeal to the public, the private sector, and compassionate individuals to assist us in holding Daybreak accountable and in preventing further suffering,' the organisation said. Daybreak, once considered one of the country's leading poultry producers, has yet to respond publicly to the NSPCA's criminal allegations.
