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Cape Town — Police and SPCA officials on Saturday made a gruesome discovery of severe animal neglect and cruelty when called to Modderfontein farm, in Potchefstroom, which is owned by newly elected National Council of Provinces chairperson Thandi Modise.
Officials found the farm animals were left without food and water for up to two weeks. This resulted in 58 dead pigs with the remaining 85 cannibilising on rotting carcasses and drinking their own urine.
In addition to the pigs, the farm also housed 16 goats, sheep, chickens and geese — all of which were also neglected. Dozens of animals had to be euthanised.
This is not the first time a politician has been in hot water over a farming incident. In January this year, the SPCA in Kimberley warned the deputy minister of mineral resources, Godfrey Oliphant, to clean up his pig farm at Warrenton, in the Northern Cape, or face losing the animals.
“There are about 20 pigs on that farm. The environment they live in is not good,” said Mario van der Westhuizen, senior inspector at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
“There is no clean water and the place is very dirty. The place needs to be improved.”
One pig at the Kaktusplaas farm was also injured and had two small wounds on it. Another pig was underweight.
Van der Westhuizen said he sent a warning notice to Oliphant urging him to clean up the farm. — News24
Londile Moyo
Online Reporter