The word spread faster than the smell in the Mother City this week. Animal rights activists, animal rescue organizations, and other parties began asking the question… if the smell was putrid enough to spread across large areas of the CBD forcing some companies to send staff home early, what were the conditions like for the 19 000 cattle on board?
Concerned citizens were invited by the Coalition to Stop Live Animal Export SA to participate in the protest on the Taliep Peterson Bridge Tuesday, and, more powerful than any protest, the incident highlighted the issues around live animal export. Many citizens have simply not been aware, despite ongoing court battles spearheaded by the NSPCA and other organizations since 2019.
These animals are swimming in their own excrement. The photographs indicate skin burns from the buildup of ammonia, and they have very apparent eye health issues. There is insufficient medication on board, insufficient veterinary care, multiple infections arise from this treatment, in addition to chronic stress, trauma, and suffering.
These animals have witnessed the death of their fellow passengers, as confirmed by the NSPCA which had to remove several deceased cattle. So, not Tayyip according to the Muslim Judicial Council Halaal Trust.
All live animals transported in this manner are at risk of being trampled, and they endure unknown weather conditions out at sea which can both terrify them and cause serious physical and emotional harm.
The Coalition is looking for support across the country as it lobbies for an outright ban on live animal exports. They believe that farming and slaughter should happen in the country of origin, reducing the trauma to animals and enabling local farming to put stringent anti-cruelty control measures in place. Countries like Australia, with a huge sheep export economy, have begun this process and we believe that South Africa should follow suit.
Duties differ between carcass meat and live export. Coalition member Kim Nicola Stephens says: “We believe that there is more of an economic objective at play than one based on ethics or religious practise. With meat in chronic shortage in the Middle East in particular, due to climate change and conditions no longer conducive to red meat farming, there is actually an economic opportunity for South Africa, but one that must be managed ethically".
The Coalition is suggesting the opening of an entirely halaal-compliant slaughterhouse in East London – to agree with the shipping company that “we supply to them, boost job creation in South Africa, and export at a fraction of the cost, compliant carcass meat to the Middle East”.
There are viable alternatives that can ensure that meat is farmed and processed according to religious standards, anti-animal cruelty standards and ultimately ensuring that meat consumption, if meat consumption is your choice, is humane, rather than driven by greed or profit.
If you would like to add your voice to the campaign please like their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=coalition%20to%20stop%20live%20animal%20export%20sa
“The global live export trade has been built on acceptance of suffering – sending animals on risky journeys around the world just for the survivors to be killed for their meat when they arrive in destination countries. Live export is not only cruel, it is also unnecessary.” Kim Nicola Stephens
