Garden Route SPCA to lay criminal charges against Mossel Bay Municipality

The Garden Route SPCA has said it would be pressing criminal charges against the Mossel Bay Municipality, relating to the "cruelty and suffering of animals at Harry Giddey Park".

- Chelsea Pieterse

These charges, under the Animal Protection Act 71 of 1962, follow the euthanisation of 52 tortoises and several birds in Harry Giddey Park in October last year, due to illness and neglect.

The Mossel Bay Municipality, who is the authority over the park, then instituted an internal investigation in November, and the findings were made public in late June this year. Some of these included unauthorised animal sales, animal neglect and euthanisation, and asset mismanagement.

It also found there was noncompliance at the park in terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), and the municipality's supply chain management and asset management policies.