Al Mawashi comments on NSPCA statement about live export of animals

The Eastern Cape-based exporter of live animals accused the NSPCA of “peddling fake news.”

In a previous report, the NSPCA stated that the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) had advised against any live animal exportation to the Middle East between May and September 2020.

Departmental spokesman Reggie Ngcobo explained: “The department recommended for the suspension of live animal exportation to the Middle East for the period of May to August 2020. Due to extreme weather conditions during this period.”

The NSPCA applauded this decision and reiterated its opposition of live animal exportation. In its recent statement, the NSPCA referred to its Australian counterpart, Animals Australia, which has been lobbying against the practice for years. In 2011, they managed to persuade their government to briefly suspend the export of live animals.

In its statement, the NSPCA referred to Al Mawashi, a feedlot in the Eastern Cape, stating: “There are approximately 70 000 sheep (at the feedlot).” According to the NSPCA, these animals were destined for a voyage to the Middle East. This concerned the animal welfare society.

In response to the press release, JP Roodt and Patrick Gearing, Al Mawashi South Africa’s spokespersons, indicated that Al Mawashi was not aware of any communication from the department dealing with any form of recommended suspension. “Al Mawashi remains committed to working with government and abiding to all regulations, for the betterment of the South African agricultural sector, as well as for the well-being of the animals,” said Gearing. 

Roodt argued that animals being exported from South Africa would not be subjected to life-threatening conditions. He also said that Al Mawashi’s exports are compliant with all South African laws and World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) standards. He highlighted that the SPCA’s recommendations do not constitute law or an amendment of regulations. Therefore, he said, it could not be said that Al Mawashi had contravened any rules.

In its statement, the NSPCA indicated that the temperatures on the Persian Gulf (where the exported livestock are set to travel) are climbing towards 40 degrees Celsius and that Al Mawashi’s vessels were not fitted with air conditioning. The NSPCA alleged that the combination of heat and humidity inherent to these voyages could be lethal to animals.

Roodt stated that the South African government has passed all vessels from an animal welfare perspective. “If Al Mawashi’s fleet was not fitted with proper air ventilation systems, it would not be passed,” he added.

“Many (animals) will die and those that survive will endure unimaginable suffering,” the society alleged. Roodt denied these allegations.

He proceeded to label the NSPCA as peddlers of fake news. The society, in turn, denied this. “The statement that the NSPCA is peddling a misinformation war is also a broad and unsubstantiated statement,” said Grace de Lange, manager of the NSPCA Farm Animal Protection Unit.

Roodt then elaborated on the differences between exporting live animals from South Africa and doing so from Australia and questioned whether the comparison was scientifically sound.

“First, the South Africa Middle East corridor is safer because of a shorter voyage duration.

Roodt stated that South African Karoo temperatures are warm and argued that the Persian Gulf’s heat should, therefore, not pose such a serious risk to the animals, whereas Australia’s livestock export port has cold, wet winters, South Africa’s more moderate climate was also mentioned by Roodt, who said, “Thus, animals do not go from extreme cold to extreme heat.”

“Scientific literature also points that the Merino  sheep are well adapted to cope with heat, and that shearing animals before the voyage reduces heat stress,” he added.

Al Mawashi is a division of the Livestock Transport and Trading Company (KLTT). KLTT’s Australian subsidiary is Rural Export and Trading WA (Retwa). In a press statement issued in October 2019, Retwa, Al Mawashi’s sister company, expressed its support of the Australian industry-led moratorium for June, July and August.

The SPCA provided this publication with a copy of the statement in response to Al Mawashi’s comments contained in this report. Although the statement referred to the science behind the decision, Retwa’s manager, Mike Gordon, alleged that the SPCA had “seized upon the statement and pulled it out of context.” He contextualised Retwa’s response, and said the statement was made in relation to Retwa supporting the reduction of a moratorium to a 3-month period.“This was a significant win for industry over what was totally unworkable and longer moratorium,” Gordon said.

“We continue to work with the industry on research into the best animal welfare and well-being measures to help deliver and verify good welfare outcomes on voyages,” the statement reads.

The statement did not address the South African position, but the Australian one. “We questioned the science for South Africa, and not Australia.  What science and evidence can the NSPCA produce that shows South African and Australian live exports are related to one another other at a statistically significant level?” asked Roodt.

“Al Mawashi and its global subsidiaries are committed to good corporate citizenship in the various global territories in which it operates. It respects the rule of law.” said Roodt when the NEWS inquired whether Al Mawashi South Africa agrees with the comment made by Australian subsidiary, Retwa.

• Note: This publication previously failed to obtain Al Mawashi’s response in reaction to the NSPCA’s statement. We apologise sincerely for this failure and have published this article featuring it.