Dierenbeschermingsorganisatie in Zuid-Afrika plaatst vraagtekens bij inzegenen voetbalstadions WK 2010 door slachten van koeien

Animal group concerned by 2010 slaughter plan

30-11-2009 The Independent Online, South Africa


The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) has written to the world soccer body, Fifa, about plans to slaughter cattle at each of the World Cup stadiums. "We've sent out a blanket letter... to anybody we feel has a role to play," the NSPCA's farm animal unit manager Del Jones said on Monday.

The NSPCA was reacting to media reports about a proposal to slaughter cattle to bless the stadiums where matches will be held during the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

It was not yet clear who would be involved in the decision-making process, Jones said in a statement.

In its letter, the NSPCA pointed out that people in South Africa and abroad were increasingly pressurising it about the issue, and it asked to be included in the decision-making process. It wanted to be involved as soon as possible and not just two weeks beforehand, she said.

"It is appreciated that the issue is sensitive from many angles. We strongly urge that the NSPCA is brought in as a role player and we ask for this necessary step to be taken," it wrote.

The NSPCA said preventing cruelty to animals was its duty and mandate.
"This is and will remain our unequivocal stance... Protecting animals includes transportation, holding conditions as well as method of slaughter."

Jones said the letter was sent on Thursday and Friday. The NSPCA had yet to receive a response.

She said the NSPCA met with South African Football Association (Safa) president Kirsten Nematandani two or three weeks ago to discuss the planned slaughter.

On Monday, Nematandani said he had advised the NSPCA to contact all the parties involved well in advance. There was little Safa could do as it was not directly involved, he said, adding that the stadiums fell under the ambit of the World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC).

The LOC could not be reached for comment on Monday, with all officials in Cape Town for the final draw.

The slaughter proposal was reportedly made in October by the Makhonya Royal Trust's chairperson Zolani Mkiva, who said the soccer tournament needed to be blessed in true African style.
"We must have a cultural ceremony of some sort, where we are going to slaughter a beast... We sacrifice the cow for this great achievement and we call on our ancestors to bless, to grace, to ensure that all goes well," he told Reuters.

It was all about "calling for the divinity to prevail for a fantastic atmosphere". The trust had written to the LOC proposing traditional ceremonies at the 10 stadiums where matches will be held.
"We believe that from the start we've got to do things in accordance with our own traditions," he said.

Mkiva told the Cape Argus that in slaughtering the cattle "we would be inviting our African ancestors to be with us throughout the soccer event".

According to The Citizen, Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Sicelo Shiceka has given the proposal his full backing.
"I will take the matter up with the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa," he told a gathering of traditional leaders at Freedom Park on Sunday.
"As a member of the 2010 ministerial committee, I will also lobby the world governing body, Fifa.
"The World Cup will be on the African continent and we will make sure that African values and cultures are felt by the visitors," he said.

The NSPCA said it did not oppose the slaughter of cattle, but was concerned about the method in which it was done.

Earlier this year, the NSPCA helped the organisers of President Jacob Zuma's inauguration celebrations to slaughter 20 cows in a way which ensured they did not suffer and that there was no risk to people. This was not the first time it had been involved in a traditional ceremony, Jones said at the time.

The NSPCA had attended the Zion Christian Church's annual pilgrimage at Moria, in Limpopo, over Easter; the Steve Biko commemoration ceremony and the cleansing ceremony at the former apartheid death-squad farm, Vlakplaas.

Jones said on Monday that the NSPCA usually pre-stunned the animals to be slaughtered and that it was this method that was used for the presidential party.
"We are quite happy to pre-stun," she said.

After an animal's throat was cut, it could stay conscious for between 60 and 90 seconds.
"That is when they start prodding and pulling. If it is stunned, it bleeds to death totally unconscious, which is what we call for."

This prevented any undue stress being placed on the animal. The NSPCA acknowledged in some cultures it was necessary for the animal to cry out, or bellow, to indicate the ancestors were happy with the sacrifice.

In these instances, a spear was usually placed on the animal and used to scratch it, causing the animal to bellow, at which point the NSPCA could stun the animal.

In the case of Jewish and Muslim animal slaughter rituals, the NSPCA post-stunned animals immediately after their throats had been cut.

"It doesn't sound a lot, but if it's 90 seconds, then it means quite a lot to the animal," Jones said. - Sapa

(Bron: http://www.iol.co.za/)