Capetonians woke to an unbearable stench hanging in the air on Monday morning, which was initially thought to be a sewage fault, but turned out to come from one of the biggest cattle carriers in the world.
The City of Cape Town were quick to investigate, and dismissed earlier reports that it was coming from the Koeberg sewage plant.
After checking other potential sewage failures, the City eventually reported that the smell was in fact emanating from a cattle ship that docked in the harbour on Sunday evening.
The NSPCA has confirmed that a team, including NSPCA Veterinary Consultant, Dr Bryce Marock, has been onboard the cattle ship, the Al Kuwait, since 22:00 Sunday night, inspecting the welfare of the 19 000 animals onboard.
This after they obtained a court order to do so.
The ship, carrying cattle bound for Iraq from Brazil, stopped in Cape Town to load feed, and was due to leave Cape Town Monday evening.
In a statement, Chief NSPCA Inspector Grace de Lange, who is still onboard the vessel as of Monday afternoon, acknowledged the concerns raised by members of the public regarding the noticeable stench emanating from the ship, reaching the city centre and surrounds.
This smell is indicative of the awful conditions the animals endure, having already spent 2½ weeks on board, with a build-up of faeces and ammonia. The stench onboard is unimaginable, yet the animals face this every single day.
She also thanked the the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, who she says pulled out all the stops to assist the NSPCA in their inspection.
Kuwaiti ”death ship”
The statement stopped short of actually detailing the condition of all the animals, however several animals were reportedly euthanised and some were covered in their own faeces.
The organisation does label the Al Kuwait a ”death ship” in its statement, and has reiterated its firm stance against the live export of animals by sea.
WARNING: The images below could cause some distress
The City of Cape Town has also condemned the horrific conditions facing animals onboard the Al Kuwait ship.
Councillor Patricia van der Ross, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, says the City will be further engaging authorities to offer any support within the City’s jurisdiction.
The City has further called on the Ports Authority and Border Management Authority to monitor any unlawful discharges of waste from the ship into the harbour. So far no instances of this have been confirmed.
Meanwhile, Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) says the ”estimated” departure of the vessel is Tuesday, 20 February 2024.
In a statement, the port authority says the welfare and humane treatment of the animals on board is a ”top priority”.
According to the TNPA, the state veterinarian approved the vessel to berth and collect animal feed, before it resumes its journey to Iraq, after more than two weeks at sea.
