Latest news with #NationalCouncilofSocietiesforthePreventionofCrueltytoAnimals
IOL News
6 days ago
- General
- IOL News
NSPCA pushes for dedicated courts to speed up wildlife cases
The National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) called for the removal of legislative red tape and an improvement in the judicial system when it came to captive animals. The NSPCA has called for the removal of legislative red tape and an improvement in the judicial system when it comes to captive animals. During a presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and Environment on Tuesday, national chief inspector and manager of the NSPCA Wildlife Protection Unit, Douglas Wolhuter, the said that in 2023 they advocated for no permits to be issued to new facilities; for a full audit of the lion farming industry; a moratorium on breeding; and putting an end to lion bone stockpiles. He said that some of the challenges faced were a slow justice system and poor penalties for transgressors. Wolhuter pointed out court prosecutions where the accused were found guilty and sentenced to a R4 000 fine or 12 months imprisonment, wholly suspended for 5 years, while another accused was sentenced to R5 000 fine or 10 months imprisonment, half of which was suspended for 5 years. He said that during inspections they found an opium factory, lion cubs discarded in rubbish dumps and illegally kept shark fins and unpermitted lion meet. The NSPCA is willing to partake in a co-ordinated inspection with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) to carry out the required audits of facilities, he said. 'None of us can afford to allow the slow pace of getting the job at hand done,' Wolhuter said. Among NSPCA inspection statistics include: 133 predator facility inspections in 2022 64 warnings issued 10 Animal Welfare Notices issued 75 captive lion facilities inspected in 2022 23 lions euthanised 176 captive lion facilities inspected in 2 years The NSPCA was also concerned about snaring, which caused distress and suffering. Acting chairperson of the committee, Ronalda Nalumango, said they must ensure continuous progress especially in addressing the gaps identified by the high-level experts. She said the DFFE will hold a meeting later this month with the Department of Agriculture where they will reflect on the recommendations by the NSPCA. 'They pin-pointed areas where the legislature needed to improve and refine practices between the department and we recognise the challenges in prosecuting individuals,' she said. Dr Lilian Managa, MP and committee member, said government must confront the issue head-on and engage meaningfully. She questioned why the existing legislation meant to protect animals, are not being implemented. Andrew Dirk de Blocq van Scheltinga, MP and committee member, said it has a negative contribution to South Africa's reputation internationally in terms of tourism and unhealthy hunting practices. "There are moral and judiciary reasons to follow through on the recommendations by the task team and panel. The fines are a slap on the wrist and we need to relook at the Animal Protection Act," he said. Cape Argus
The Citizen
6 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
Lion breeding industry remains 'unchanged' says NSPCA
According to the NSPCA, its inspectors continue to encounter widespread contraventions of the Animals Protection Act. The National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) has warned that little to no progress has been made in shutting down South Africa's captive lion breeding industry, despite a series of government commitments and legal recommendations. During a briefing to the portfolio committee on environment, forestry and fisheries on Tuesday, National Chief Inspector Douglas Wolhuter said that 'nothing has changed' — highlighting ongoing welfare violations and a continued lack of enforcement, despite a government-backed plan to phase out lion farming. Lack of action despite recommendations In 2020, a High-Level Panel (HLP) recommended a full audit of lion farms, a moratorium on breeding, and the elimination of lion bone stockpiles. These proposals were adopted in April 2024 through the Ministerial Task Team (MTT) report. However, the NSPCA says none of these have been fully implemented. '[There has been] no full and extensive audit of the industry, no moratorium on breeding, and lion bone stockpiles still exist,' the presentation read. ALSO READ: Chicken farm funded by PIC fails to reverse court order against inhumane practices Disturbing welfare conditions persist According to the NSPCA, its inspectors continue to encounter widespread contraventions of the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962. These include lack of potable water, inadequate shelter, insufficient veterinary care, poor hygiene, and evidence of neglect. 'Any person who unnecessarily starves or under-feeds or denies water or food to any animal is in violation,' the NSPCA reminded parliament, citing section 2 (1)(c) of the Act. One example included lion cubs discarded in rubbish dumps, with undeclared carcasses and bones also recovered. 'How were the lions treated when alive, and how did they die?' the NSPCA asked. ALSO READ: Addo Park moves elephants to avoid culling While court rulings have affirmed the NSPCA's mandate—declaring animal welfare and conservation as 'intertwined values'—the organisation expressed frustration with ongoing delays. 'The justice process is too slow, and penalties remain insufficient,' the presentation said. In one recent case, a guilty party received a suspended 12-month sentence or a R4 000 fine. ALSO READ: Farmers 'on the edge' over crippling foot and mouth disease A call for meaningful collaboration The NSPCA has called on the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) to provide project-specific funding to allow for joint inspections and audits. 'The NSPCA is willing to work in Joint Operations with the DFFE and EMIs to effect coordinated inspections […] and the information sharing must be a two-way street for effective compliance' Wolhuter warned against replacing lions with other exotic species, such as tigers. 'South Africa cannot allow tigers to replace lions, as welfare still applies,' he stated. NOW READ: Rabies warning: Over 4 800 people bitten by animals in Limpopo every year
IOL News
7 days ago
- General
- IOL News
NSPCA advocates for specialised courts to expedite wildlife cases
The National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) called for the removal of legislative red tape and an improvement in the judicial system when it came to captive animals. The National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) called for the removal of legislative red tape and an improvement in the judicial system when it came to captive animals. The NSPCA made a clarion call for specialised courts to handle wildlife cases and also to expedite cases in the judicial system, during a presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and Environment on Tuesday. Douglas Wolhuter, the National Chief Inspector and Manager NSPCA Wildlife Protection Unit said that in 2023 they advocated for no permits to be issued to new facilities, for a full audit of the lion farming industry, a moratorium on breeding and putting an end to lion bone stockpiles. He said that some of the challenges faced are a slow justice system and poor penalties for transgressors and that were many obstacles that they faced between January 2023 and June 2025. Wolhuter pointed out court prosecutions where the accused were found guilty and sentenced to a R4,000 fine or 12 months imprisonment, wholly suspended for 5 years, while another accused was sentenced to R5,000 fine or 10 months imprisonment, half of which is suspended for 5 years. He said that during inspections they found an opium factory, lion cubs discarded in rubbish dumps, illegally kept shark fins and unpermitted lion meet, high schedule drugs kept in the open and without a veterinarian on-site The NSPCA is willing to partake in a co-ordinated inspection with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) to carry out the required audits of the facilities. Wolhuter said the NSPCA already shares information with the compliance and enforcement department of the DFFE, and the information sharing must be a two-way street for effective compliance. 'None of us can afford to allow the slow pace of getting the job at hand done,'Wolhuter said. The NSPCA inspection statistics: 133 predator facility inspections in 2022 64 Warnings issued 10 Animal Welfare Notices issued 75 captive lion facilities inspected in 2022. Some facilities have had multiple inspections due to non-compliance. 21 Warrants granted and enforced in 2022 only. 49 Warnings issued 6 Notices issued 23 lions euthanised 4 Dockets Registered 7 Dockets in total for lion farming 1 Case in trial 176 captive lion facilities inspected in 2 years The NSPCA was also concerned about snaring, which caused distress and suffering. Acting chairperson of the committee Ronalda Nalumango said the committee must ensure continuous progress especially in addressing the gaps identified by the high-level experts. She said the DFFE will hold a meeting later this month with the Department of Agriculture where they will reflect on the recommendations by the NSPCA. 'They pin-pointed areas where the legislature needed to improve and refine practices between the department and we recognise the challenges in prosecuting individuals,' she said. Dr Lilian Managa, MP and committee member, said government must confront this issue head on and engage meaningfully and why the existing legislation meant to protect these animals, are not being implemented. Andrew Dirk de Blocq van Scheltinga, MP and committee member, said this has a negative contribution to South Africa's reputation internationally in terms of tourism and unhealthy hunting practices. "There are moral and judiciary reasons to follow through on the recommendations by the task team and panel. The fines are a slap on the wrist and we need to relook at the Animal Protection Act," he said. [email protected]
Toronto Sun
06-05-2025
- General
- Toronto Sun
Thousands of chickens euthanized in South Africa after they were left starving and eating each other
Published May 06, 2025 • 2 minute read This undated photo provided by South Africa's National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) shows dead chickens at a poultry farming site in Delmas, South Africa. Photo by NSPCA South Africa / AP CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Animal welfare officers faced the grisly task of euthanizing more than 350,000 chickens by hand after they were left starving and cannibalizing each other when a South African state-owned poultry company ran out of money to feed them, officials said Tuesday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or NSPCA, said it wasn't able to say for certain how many other chickens had already died by the time its officers reached several neglected poultry farming sites because of the 'mass cannibalism' that took place among the birds. The NSPCA managed to save more than 500,000 chickens, it said. 'It was a harrowing scene,' the NSPCA said in a statement. 'Skeletal chickens huddled together, chickens eating one another, feeding lines stripped bare.' The chickens were owned by Daybreak Foods, a major poultry supplier owned by South Africa's state asset management company Public Investment Corp. NSPCA officers were first alerted to a crisis at one farm on April 30. The organization uncovered at least five other farms in northern South Africa with multiple sites on each farm where birds had been left to starve, it said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Daybreak Foods was denied permission to take the birds to a slaughterhouse because they were too small. There was no immediate response to an email message seeking comment from Daybreak Foods late Tuesday. Company spokesperson Nokwazi Ngcongo told the Daily Maverick news outlet that the birds went unfed for a period of time due to financial challenges affecting feed delivery. She said efforts had been made to limit animal suffering as much as possible. Nazareth Appalsamy, the manager of the NSPCA's farm animal protection unit, told The Associated Press that the mass culling began last Wednesday and was only completed on Monday. Around 75 animal protection officers were tasked with euthanizing the chickens that weren't able to recover one by one, Appalsamy said. 'Culling took a real toll on the staff, being exposed to such extreme measures,' he said. The NSPCA said the chickens hadn't been fed for more than a week and pledged to file a court case against Daybreak Foods under animal protection laws for abandoning its responsibilities. The South African government said it is in talks with Daybreak Foods leadership over its financial troubles. Toronto & GTA Canada Toronto Maple Leafs News Toronto Maple Leafs
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Thousands of chickens euthanized in South Africa after they were left starving and eating each other
Thousands of chickens euthanized in South Africa after they were left starving and eating each other This undated photo provided by South Africa's National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) shows dead chickens at a poultry farming site in Delmas, South Africa. (NSPCA South Africa via AP) CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Animal welfare officers faced the grisly task of euthanizing more than 350,000 chickens by hand after they were left starving and cannibalizing each other when a South African state-owned poultry company ran out of money to feed them, officials said Tuesday. The National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or NSPCA, said it wasn't able to say for certain how many other chickens had already died by the time its officers reached several neglected poultry farming sites because of the 'mass cannibalism' that took place among the birds. The NSPCA managed to save more than 500,000 chickens, it said. 'It was a harrowing scene,' the NSPCA said in a statement. 'Skeletal chickens huddled together, chickens eating one another, feeding lines stripped bare.' ADVERTISEMENT The chickens were owned by Daybreak Foods, a major poultry supplier owned by South Africa's state asset management company Public Investment Corp. NSPCA officers were first alerted to a crisis at one farm on April 30. The organization uncovered at least five other farms in northern South Africa with multiple sites on each farm where birds had been left to starve, it said. Daybreak Foods was denied permission to take the birds to a slaughterhouse because they were too small. There was no immediate response to an email message seeking comment from Daybreak Foods late Tuesday. Company spokesperson Nokwazi Ngcongo told the Daily Maverick news outlet that the birds went unfed for a period of time due to financial challenges affecting feed delivery. She said efforts had been made to limit animal suffering as much as possible. ADVERTISEMENT Nazareth Appalsamy, the manager of the NSPCA's farm animal protection unit, told The Associated Press that the mass culling began last Wednesday and was only completed on Monday. Around 75 animal protection officers were tasked with euthanizing the chickens that weren't able to recover one by one, Appalsamy said. "Culling took a real toll on the staff, being exposed to such extreme measures," he said. The NSPCA said the chickens hadn't been fed for more than a week and pledged to file a court case against Daybreak Foods under animal protection laws for abandoning its responsibilities. The South African government said it is in talks with Daybreak Foods leadership over its financial troubles. ___ AP Africa news:
