Animal rights in spotlight on N1 again
MIDRAND - Following the frenzied butchering of live cattle on the N1 near Bloemfontein, Midrand reflects on a similar incident nearly two years ago.
On 11 June 2013, a number of pigs were being transported on the N1 when their truck was involved in an accident near Midrand.
Andre Venter, senior inspector at the National Council of the Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Association (SPCA), spoke of the association’s role in such cases.
He has said in that incident, they wrote to the National Police Commissioner, Riah Phiyega, about the non co-operation from the authorities, including the police onsite.
“In both incidents, our main concern is the animals that are still alive and trapped [in the vehicle],” he said. “Where we can, we pursue animal cruelty charges.”
In the 2013 incident, the NSPCA did not pursue such charges, however they were disappointed by the police’s lack of a response to their complaint. “Till this day, they have yet to respond. In the Bloemfontein incident, one of the cows was still alive when the crowd was trying to hack for meat.”
He also said that many times they feel overwhelmed by numbers and there is little they can do in a short period of time to save animals from crowds. This is when police co-operation would come in handy.
