Pigs flourishing one year after interference by SPCA
NIGEL - Combined efforts by Nigel SPCA and DA councillor Wally Labuschagne over the past year, resulted in an ill maintained municipal farm being transformed into a well functioning project.
In November last year, Labuschagne received a call from Lynette Potgieter (kennel manager at Nigel SPCA) saying the municipal farm situated on the Alberton/Kliprivier Road poses a serious health hazard to both human and animal. Upon visiting the Spaarwater Incubation Farm, he discovered around 80 seriously ill pigs with almost no food or water inside the piggery. Some of the pigs had to be euthanased while others had already died of starvation and dehydration. Chickens on the brink of death were also removed.
The farm was first acquired by Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) in 2012 for an amount of R10 million. It was originally intended to be a centre of development and upliftment of communities to teach residents scientific farming methods and to cultivate various fruit and vegetable plants to be moved to community food gardens.
At the time, David Qata was appointed as operations manager and upon investigation by the SPCA and Labuschagne, he stated that the pigs belonged to a private owner who was only renting the pig pens from him. Further investigation found the transformer that used to pump water from the boreholes, had blown months earlier.
After an article was published in HERAUT on November 26 “Still no water, but more pigs arrive”, EMM started working together with the SPCA to solve the problem and transported nearly one ton of water to the farm. “That is enough water to sustain the pigs for one day,” Lynette had said, but since then EMM erected a number of water tanks on the farm.
As of late, a state of the art water pipe system ensures the pigs have sufficient and clean drinking water every day. Hazel McLuckie from Nigel SPCA said they are satisfied with the overall condition of the farm and the piggery, although they are looking into minor issues with the chicken broiler. “There are no real concerns at this point, but we are keeping a close eye on the operations,” she said.
Upon visiting the piggery on October 28, it was evident that the farm is acceptably maintained. The pig pens are clean and the animals have enough food and water. Elsewhere on the farm was a community food garden, which also boasts modern tunnel netting for organic vegetable production.
It seems that problems such as gross neglect and non-maintenance of the Spaarwater Incubation Farm is under control for now.
DA councillor Wally Labuschagne during a visit to the Spaarwater Incubation Farm on the Alberton/Klipriver Road where several pigs have died of starvation and dehydration last year. Combined efforts by Nigel SPCA and DA councillor Wally Labuschagne over the past year, resulted in an ill maintained municipal farm being transformed into a well-functioning project and SPCA inspectors are satisfied that the animals are well fed and have sufficient water.
Watch this video insert:
Do you need to speak to a journalist? Contact Magda by email.
Visit our Facebook page
