This incident is a damning example of poor governance and places a very serious question mark over the officials’ psychological make-up, never mind their lack of compassion and inhumanity. I dare anyone remotely involved to prove me wrong and provide an honest explanation as to why the animals were left to die from hunger and thirst.
It boggles the mind to think of someone seeing the animals growing weaker and weaker without doing a thing, even if only on their own initiative. I shudder to think what would have happened had the Highveld SPCA not taken charge of the situation. It’s indicated that criminal charges will be laid against the agriculture department, and rightfully so.
All those responsible for this reprehensible act of cruelty must be made an example of and given the most severe punishment possible. I would even go so far as to demand that the head of department of agriculture, who is ultimately responsible, be removed from his post.
The department apparently delivered fodder and licks immediately after the SPCA exposed the state of affairs at the facility. And it’s been reported that the department has since agreed to fully adhere to the SPCA prescriptions and recommendations.
Ja well… As my Oupa used to say: there are always three sides to a story – yours, mine and the truth.
In this case, though, there is only the truth. And the truth is that the department and its officials are guilty of one of the most heinous acts of animal cruelty that I have come across in my long career in agriculture. This event is, in my humble opinion, symptomatic of a decided lack of moral fibre in the department. What other explanation could there be for such callousness and lack of common decency?
I repeat my challenge – is there anyone in the Mpumalanga department of agriculture brave enough to give an honest explanation for this heartbreaking affair?
It will take more than half-hearted excuses to exonerate the department in this instance.
