The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) has laid charges against four mohair farmers following a recent exposé by the animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), who uncovered brutal abuse on farms in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape of South Africa.
Footage revealed goats being dragged by their horns and legs, a man can be seen kneeling on a goat’s neck, goats being lifted by their tails and thrown across the floor. Shearers can be seen inflicting wounds on the goats and crudely stitching up the wounds on the shearing floor, without providing any pain relief or anaesthesia.
The footage also shows a goat being slaughtered by a man who saws into the animal’s neck with a short knife without pre-stunning it and then proceeded to begin dressing the animal before it had bled out.
The @NSPCA_SA has laid charges against four mohair farmers following a recent exposé by the animal rights group @PETA, who uncovered alleged abuse on farms in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape @mohairSA pic.twitter.com/2GlOhEwMFu
— AlgoaFMNews (@AlgoaFMNews) August 16, 2018
“The graphic footage that we received was shocking. The agony and distress that these animals endured was both horrendous and unacceptable. The NSPCA will relentlessly pursue justice for the animals that have suffered so tremendously,” said Senior Inspector Grace De Lange, the manager of the NSPCA Farm Animal Protection Unit.
The Eastern Cape accounts for a third of all livestock in the country.The region produces more than 50 percent of the world's mohair. Farmers have been forced to sell off their surplus animals before they die.#SABCNews pic.twitter.com/c4j96FYe5Q
— Jayed-Leigh Paulse (@JayedLeigh) August 4, 2018
The NSPCA is opposed to farming practices which cause suffering or distress to animals and will continue to inspect these farms and intervene when necessary.
SEVERAL farmers across the country are stuck with unsold #wool and #mohair after the recent regulations that that blocked the fabric from being processed and auction out of the country. #BKB #Lesotho @BKBLtd @Sundayexpres https://t.co/KpbbtZVH8W
— Lesotho Times (@Lestimes) June 22, 2018
Mohair farmers say Peta misrepresented angora farming in a shock documentary – that could cost South Africa R1.5 billion per year | @BISouthAfrica https://t.co/JZfCPEKotK pic.twitter.com/wdxmxEFuNv
— News24 (@News24) May 29, 2018
SPECIAL REPORT | As South Africa’s mohair industry reels in the wake of a disturbing video, supposedly showing widespread cruelty on angora goat farms, farmers have cast doubt on claims in the reporthttps://t.co/CiHM4KR8aT pic.twitter.com/vFa1uFgsTJ
— News24 (@News24) May 30, 2018
*Footage from the Sentient FB page posted 3 months ago.
Also Read:
SANDF abused horses now in care of NSPCA
Ten dog fighters appear in court
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.za, juliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za
Add us on WhatsApp today! Comaro Chronicle: 079 427 8074 and Southern Courier: 079 404 5789.
Get regular news updates sent directly to your inbox: Newsletter-Signup