Pretoria – Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Thandi Modise, says she will cooperate fully with the SPCA which is investigating the neglect of animals on her farm outside Potchefstroom.
In a statement on Monday, the former North West Premier said she had been under the impression that the farm was being run under the supervision of a replacement manager after her farm manager had requested leave to attend an urgent family matter.
She said it came as a shock to learn that the replacement manager had deserted the farm from the SPCA and saw footage of her farm on television.
This comes after media reported that the SPCA had raided the land following a tip-off and found animals either dead of starving. The 100 pigs, sheep, chickens and goats appeared to have been without water for a week or more.
Modise said she was saddened by the abandonment and trauma that the livestock suffered after workers employed on the farm “unceremoniously left without notice”.
She further welcomed the assistance offered from farmers who have volunteered to assist her in bringing the situation on the farm to normality.
“I had for the past three years visited the farm on a fortnightly basis and took personal interest as to what was happening on the farm and in my absence made necessary arrangements for the livestock to be well looked after and fed until this tragic and unfortunate incident,” she said.
Modise said she had appointed a vet to assess the condition of the remaining animals and an environmentalist to assist in removing the carcasses in an appropriate manner.
An interim farm manager has also been appointed.
Further a team, including a team of lawyers, will visit the farm this afternoon to enquire as to who or what caused a veld fire that affected neighbouring farms and why the water and electricity to the farm was cut off.
The attorneys have also been mandated to consider the offer from a farmer who has proposed to enter into a lease agreement with Modise.
She was in the process of leasing the farm out to allow her to focus on her new responsibilities after her relocation to Cape Town. – SAnews.gov.za
