SPCA inspectors were ordered off the contested Australian cattle ship, the Barkly Pearl, last night.
The ship appeared off Gonubie at dawn yesterday, and entered the East London harbour at 8.15am. In a day of tension at the quay, and noisy hooting in support of anti-cruelty placards in city suburbs, lawyers for the Page Farming Trust and the NSPCA argued before East London chief magistrate Fanie Stander over the conditions of the society’s inspection warrant. Both emerged claiming gains.
Meredith said: “Yes, sadly, those poor animals are going to be slaughtered, but we will never forsake those animals who have to travel on that ship of hell.”
She said: “My inspectors really battle to watch that ship leave. We stand on that quayside helpless, knowing the hell they go through.
“We know that in Mauritius they only have one stun box and do not use a capture bolt,” she said.
King William’s Town SPCA inspector Annette Rademeyer said the last time the Barkly Pearl docked, inspectors witnessed a stock handler kicking a steer in the face and “excessive use” of a cattle prodder.
“We are dealing with facts,” she said. “We don’t tie ourselves to trees. It is cold, hard fact that animals have difficulty breathing, their eyes water, their noses run.”
Page, sitting calmly nearby on the quayside, expressed quiet frustration with the NSPCA inspectors for disregarding their agreement.
He admitted that when the inspectors first arrived at the ship they were turned away by a private security guard, but this was only until the trust’s attorney, Gary Stirk, arrived.
Meredith, however, said: “They even have the cheek to say we could have access to the harbour! I did not know the Pages owned the harbour!”
Meredith said national interest in the ship was huge. There were hooting protests in Beacon Bay and Gonubie.
Cattle barons and NSPCA lock horns
The ship appeared off Gonubie at dawn yesterday, and entered the East London harbour at 8.15am. In a day of tension at the quay, and noisy hooting in support of anti-cruelty placards in city suburbs, lawyers for the Page Farming Trust and the NSPCA argued before East London chief magistrate Fanie Stander over the conditions of the society’s inspection warrant. Both emerged claiming gains.
Meredith said: “Yes, sadly, those poor animals are going to be slaughtered, but we will never forsake those animals who have to travel on that ship of hell.”
She said: “My inspectors really battle to watch that ship leave. We stand on that quayside helpless, knowing the hell they go through.
“We know that in Mauritius they only have one stun box and do not use a capture bolt,” she said.
King William’s Town SPCA inspector Annette Rademeyer said the last time the Barkly Pearl docked, inspectors witnessed a stock handler kicking a steer in the face and “excessive use” of a cattle prodder.
“We are dealing with facts,” she said. “We don’t tie ourselves to trees. It is cold, hard fact that animals have difficulty breathing, their eyes water, their noses run.”
Page, sitting calmly nearby on the quayside, expressed quiet frustration with the NSPCA inspectors for disregarding their agreement.
He admitted that when the inspectors first arrived at the ship they were turned away by a private security guard, but this was only until the trust’s attorney, Gary Stirk, arrived.
Meredith, however, said: “They even have the cheek to say we could have access to the harbour! I did not know the Pages owned the harbour!”
Meredith said national interest in the ship was huge. There were hooting protests in Beacon Bay and Gonubie.
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