NSPCA wins landmark ruling on animal welfare

AS the National Council of SPCAS (NSPCA) celebrates a landmark Eastern Cape High Court judgment in Makhanda, which significantly strengthens its authority to prevent animal cruelty during live animal exports by sea, in a separate action, Stop Live Exports South Africa (SLESA), representing over 70 animal protection organisations, directly challenged the government by making a presentation to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Agriculture.

- GENEVIEVE SERRA

The High Court ruling overturns restrictive measures imposed by the East London Magistrates' Court in July 2023 during the loading of over 53000 animals on to the vessel Al Messilah, which had limited the NSPCA to only four officers and prohibited all photographic and video evidence gathering.

The High Court set aside the magistrate's order in full, affirming the NSPCA's constitutional and statutory mandate to “police actions of cruelty to animals by investigations and, where necessary, prosecute those persons who ill-treat animals”. This mandate, the court found, cannot be fulfilled if inspectors are prevented from gathering visual and documentary evidence especially in large-scale, high-risk operations such as live export.