RPO concerned over AL Kuwait that docket with cattle at Cape Town

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The Red Meat Producers' Organisation (RPO) has expressed its concern over the ship, AL Kuwait, which docket at the Cape Town harbour with about 19,000 cattle on board.

The ship, which belongs to the company Al Mawashi is reportedly on its way to Kuwait from Brazil.

RPO says it docket to get fodder, medication and food for the crew, but its presence left a stench around the Cape Town harbour.

It says as a result the NSPCA obtained a court order to go on board and they allegedly saw dead and sick animals placed in horrible conditions.

It is not the first time that the NSPCA has bumped heads with Al Mawashi when they previously went to court to get the export of livestock permanently banned.

RPO says at the time, they joined the case as a friend of the court to represent the position and situation of red meat producers, however, the court ruled in favour of Al Mawashi.

The Al Kuwait was due to depart from the harbour on Tuesday.

In an urgent statement issued to the public, the RPO wanted to highlight several points on their stance and position regarding the issue.

RPO statements

• The matter is of foreign origin and therefore did not take place under the banner of South African exports.
• We are concerned about the welfare of the animals on the ship. We recognise the rights of animals as noted in the Constitution of South Africa and believe that all animals should be treated as such. As primary producers, our animals are our pride and it grieves us to see animals receive poor treatment.
• We are also concerned about the possible influence the situation may have on the biosecurity of South Africa with people moving on and off the ship and the possibility of dead animals being offloaded. As a country that is already struggling to regain its animal health status from the WOAH (World Organisation for Animal Health), we cannot afford more breaches of our biosecurity.
• We think that someone should have known and given approval for the ship to dock in Cape Town. The fodder that was loaded should also have been arranged in advance. We would like to know how the approvals worked and what the protocols for such an action look like and will try to find out how it happened.

It should be noted that Al Mawashi is an international company and that the current situation has nothing to do with Al Mawashi South Africa which arranges and coordinates the South African exports.

The RPO’s point of view on live exports from South Africa

We support the live exports from South Africa as we see it as a much-needed alternative market that improves the competitiveness in the market, BUT

We believe that animals should be treated according to their rights during exports and that this should be done according to the necessary protocols to ensure the welfare of animals.

Due to the seriousness of animal welfare for red meat producers, the RPO is a member of the Livestock Welfare Coordinating Committee (LWCC) of South Africa and therefore works under the guidance of the Committee.

The RPO also has a Code of Best Practice where we give red meat producers guidelines on how animals should be treated.

South Africa has a protocol for live exports that was drawn up by the government in collaboration with industry (more than 300 inputs by industry were taken up in the protocol) to ensure that exports are done fairly. Work is currently underway to turn the protocol into legislation.

The only livestock export harbour in South Africa is East London and therefore the Eastern Cape RPO has established a livestock export forum which, together with the SPCA and other institutions, ensures that exports from South Africa take place according to the protocol

RPO says its primary aim is to create a sustainable and profitable market for red meat producers in South Africa.

"However, sustainability or profitability cannot be met if we do not help ensure that something like live exports is done right. We will therefore work with any role player to help ensure that the export of livestock from South Africa can be an example of livestock exports for the world." read the statement

Vessel

According to Vesselfinder.com, the vessel is en route to the port of Umm Qasr Port, Iraq, and is expected to arrive there on Mar 5, 16:00. The vessel AL KUWAIT is sailing under the flag of Kuwait.