parties lash out at Modise over pigs #SA

Political parties on Tuesday denounced
National Council of Provinces (NCOP) chairwoman Thandi
Modise, following criticism of her controversial North West
farm.
The Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom
Fighters expressed disgust at the cruelty in which the
animals were living.
"The [EFF] is utterly disgusted by... Thandi Modise's
negligence on the farm which was bought with a
government loan," EFF Chief Whip Floyd Shivambu said in a
statement.
"It is despicable and extremely negligent for anyone to
leave animals of whichever kind to suffer to the extent that
animals at Thandi Modise's animal farm suffered,
particularly the extent that animals had to feed of each
other's carcasses for survival."
DA national spokesman Marius Redelinghuys accused
Modise of allowing her animals to die of hunger and thirst,
subjecting them to unnecessary suffering and driving the
surviving animals to cannibalism.
"This is a clear contravention of the Animal Protection Act.
Modise should face the consequences for breaking the law,
just like any other person," said Redelinghuys.
Police and officials of the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) went to the farm on Saturday
where dead and dying animals were found.
These included pigs, sheep, geese, goats and ducks.
It appeared the animals had been without water and food for
around two weeks. There were no farmworkers on the
property, no electricity, and the water pumps were broken.
The Sunday Independent reported that the surviving 85 pigs
on the farm had begun cannibalising 58 dead pigs, and were
reportedly drinking their own urine.
Shivambu said the EFF did not accept Modise's explanation
for the situation at the farm. He also questioned Modise's
explanation that the suffering that the animals endured did
not compare to the financial loss that she suffered.
"The EFF is further appalled by the revelation that Modise's
animal farm was bought through a loan from the Land Bank,
which she acquired when she was still the premier of the
North West province," he said.
The DA's Redelinghuys said there were a number of
unanswered questions as to why Modise's farmworkers left
her farm unattended in the first place.
"We await the outcome of the police investigation into what
happened at Modise's farm. Those responsible should face
the consequences as set out in the Animal Protection Act,"
he said.
Modise also received support. The African National
Congress and the North West rural development department
have defended her.
ANC chief whip Stone Sizani said the ANC had been briefed
by Modise regarding the matter and shared her feelings that
the situation was unfortunate and indeed should not have
happened.
"We are satisfied that she is taking the necessary measures
to correct the situation and to ensure it is avoided in
future."
North West rural development MEC Manketsi Tlhape
committed her department to working together with the
team handling the matter by providing the needed veterinary
support.
Tlhape said while Modise had, as an emerging farmer and
owner of the farm, never approached the department for
provision of veterinary services or anything related to farm
management practices since privately acquiring this farm
about four years ago, the situation called for immediate
specialised support.
"Our pledge in this regard is guided by the responsibility
bestowed upon us as the department, that of improving the
quality of animal health by preventing and controlling
animal diseases through vaccination programmes,
rendering of clinical diagnosis, veterinary public health
service and provision of animal feed," she said in a
statement.