La Lucia beach chicken slaughter upsets resident

A LA Lucia resident has raised concerns about the health hazards of illegal ritual sacrifices of animals on beaches. This after she came across chickens being slaughtered, then braaied, despite her attempts to prevent the act.

Margarita Fuller, who has lived in La Lucia for the past 10 years, said chicken heads washing up on the shore were a common sight. Scrawny chickens that have escaped the rituals but still have their legs tied together have in the past also been found.

“I have seen whole chickens washed up as well, which were obviously drowned. Before easter I attempted to stop chickens being drowned. We often find decapitated chickens on the beach. I’ve even rescued some of the chickens that have escaped.”

“I respect the fact that people have different cultures and traditions, but this is just horrific.”

Fuller said there have been at least five such incidents this year.

“When I spoke to the local security guard he seemed to laugh off my protestations. He told me the people had a permit which meant it was okay to slaughter animals on a beach,” she said.

However, according to Duban North councillor Dean Macpherson, the slaughter of any animal on the beachfront is illegal. “The Abattoir Hygiene Act regulates ritual slaughters to private property, and do not cover public places, like beaches.

He added there had been similar incidents of slaughter on Durban North beaches over the years.