The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) has welcomed a guilty verdict handed down to a Stutterheim livestock driver who allowed a calf to be trampled while loading his vehicle with animals.
In October 2016, inspector Navesh Singh from the NSPCA farm animal protection unit encountered a livestock truck parked on the side of the N6 in Stutterheim.
He discovered a young bull calf confined together with a cow in the same compartment.
According to the NSPCA, the calf was unable to move and clearly in distress.
The organisation said the driver, Jacobus van Staden, indicated that the calf was en route to be slaughtered at the East London abattoir, and confirmed offloading six other calves half an hour prior.
“Inspector Singh insisted that the animal could not be transported to East London and escorted the truck to the Stutterheim SPCA where it took in excess of 20 minutes to safely remove the adult bovine to have the calf attended to by a veterinarian,” the NSPCA said in a statement.
“The young bull calf was covered in excrement and had begun to display breathing complications. Due to extensive injuries, the animal was humanely euthanised to prevent further suffering.”
The postmortem indicated severe bruising consistent with being trampled by the much larger adult animal.
A case in terms of the Animals Protection Act was registered and the matter was heard in the Stutterheim magistrate’s court where Van Staden was found guilty of contravening the act.
Van Staden was sentenced to a fine of R2,400 or six months’ imprisonment, suspended for five years.
“Inspector Singh relentlessly pursued this case and at one stage the previous prosecutor declined to prosecute. However, determination to seek justice for the young calf reigned and the matter was reinstated by the current prosecutor, who was outstanding in presenting this case to court,” the statement said.
“The NSPCA reiterates that all animals matter and we will never stop being the voice for animals in SA.”
Stutt livestock driver fined for allowing calf to be trampled
Image: 123RF/ JIRATCHAI CHAROENSAWANG
The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) has welcomed a guilty verdict handed down to a Stutterheim livestock driver who allowed a calf to be trampled while loading his vehicle with animals.
In October 2016, inspector Navesh Singh from the NSPCA farm animal protection unit encountered a livestock truck parked on the side of the N6 in Stutterheim.
He discovered a young bull calf confined together with a cow in the same compartment.
According to the NSPCA, the calf was unable to move and clearly in distress.
The organisation said the driver, Jacobus van Staden, indicated that the calf was en route to be slaughtered at the East London abattoir, and confirmed offloading six other calves half an hour prior.
“Inspector Singh insisted that the animal could not be transported to East London and escorted the truck to the Stutterheim SPCA where it took in excess of 20 minutes to safely remove the adult bovine to have the calf attended to by a veterinarian,” the NSPCA said in a statement.
“The young bull calf was covered in excrement and had begun to display breathing complications. Due to extensive injuries, the animal was humanely euthanised to prevent further suffering.”
The postmortem indicated severe bruising consistent with being trampled by the much larger adult animal.
A case in terms of the Animals Protection Act was registered and the matter was heard in the Stutterheim magistrate’s court where Van Staden was found guilty of contravening the act.
Van Staden was sentenced to a fine of R2,400 or six months’ imprisonment, suspended for five years.
“Inspector Singh relentlessly pursued this case and at one stage the previous prosecutor declined to prosecute. However, determination to seek justice for the young calf reigned and the matter was reinstated by the current prosecutor, who was outstanding in presenting this case to court,” the statement said.
“The NSPCA reiterates that all animals matter and we will never stop being the voice for animals in SA.”
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