The NSPCA said it had been blocked twice in its probe into complaints of animals being abandoned at former President Jacob Zuma's Nkandla homestead.
NSPCA executive director, Marcelle Meredith, said they had received a complaint telephonically and then in writing, alleging that there were only security personnel on the property and no one available to tend to the animals.
"An NSPCA Inspector attended to the complaint and was denied entry by the security personnel on duty. He then approached the court and was granted a warrant to enter the property and inspect the animals but was still denied entry due to it being a National Key Point," she said.
"The Inspector approached the relevant officials and was finally granted entry to inspect the conditions under which the animals were being kept and no animals had been abandoned. There were welfare concerns noted at the time of the inspection and a warning was issued," Meredith said.
She said the warning was subsequently complied with and the NSPCA will continue to monitor the animals at the homestead.
"The NSPCA will always follow through and investigate when a complaint is received, it does not matter who the owner of the animals are or where in South Africa the animals are situated - we will continue to be the protectors of the voiceless no matter what challenges are thrown at us" explained Meredith.
She also told Algoa FM News that the inspector had been "warmly" received at Nkandla and that they "may or may not" have to go back for a follow-up inspection.
