According to a letter from KAWS to the Knysna Abattoir dated November 1, 130 head of sheep had been transported from Mossel Bay for slaughter that day.
The letter stated: "Animals from the top deck of the vehicle were being cruelly pushed from the truck onto a concrete floor some 1.2 metres below resulting in such animals being injured. Upon enquiry, our officials were told that no ramp was available for the safe offloading of animals. Electric prods were being indiscriminately and profusely used to chase the animals from the truck. There was a dead sheep on the truck. There was a dying sheep on the truck, which was pulled from the top deck of the truck, falling onto the concrete floor some 1.2 metres below. It subsequently died. The floor of the truck/trailer was covered in a thick layer of excrement and cross-welded concrete reinforcing steel placed loosely on the floor in a manner likely to cause injury."
KAWS referred to sections 2(1) (m) (q) and (r) of the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962, which renders the above-mentioned to constitute offences in terms of the act. KAWS demanded that, within seven days of service of the letter, the Knysna Abattoir install, have available and ensure the use of an offloading ramp that: "(a) must be so constructed to avoid injury of animals during offloading and provide a stable area to facilitate the free movement of animals; (b) may not have open spaces between the offloading ramp and the vehicle; (c) must be at the same height of the vehicle for which it is used; (d) must have guide rails; (e) must have a permanent non-slippery floor at a slope of not more than 20 degrees; (f) may not have sharp protruding edges or any other features that may cause injury; and (g) must have adequate artificial lighting if animals are offloaded at night."
KAWS also demanded that the Knysna Abattoir issue written instructions to its staff prohibiting the use of electric prodders on already moving livestock, on the face of any livestock, on the anal or genital areas of any livestock and only to use electric prodders as a last resort. KAWS demanded that the Knysna Abattoir "put in place demonstrable policies, instructions and measures to ensure that: a) Animals are offloaded in a calm manner to avoid excitement, fear, stress and injury; b) No electrical prodding of pigs and calves take place; c) Animals are not picked up by their heads, fleece, skin, ears, tails, horns or legs, nor to be forced to jump from different levels or over gaps during offloading."
KAWS pointed out that all vehicles used for the transportation of livestock should be fitted with humane non-slip flooring which does not impede the cleaning of the vehicle and demonstrable measures to maintain vehicles for the transport of livestock in a clean and hygienic condition should be put in place.
KAWS reserved the right to seek remedy before the courts and/or pursue criminal charges in terms of the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962 should their demands not be satisfactorily addressed within seven days, by today Thursday, November 7.
Frik Van Heerden owner of the Knysna Abattoir said that in his opinion they were compliant with all regulations, besides the ramp. He explained that someone had reversed into the ramps, damaging the upper level. This had apparently occurred about a week prior to KAWS' visit, but Van Heerden could not recall the specific date. He said that plans had been submitted to the Health Department to rebuild the top ramp and they were currently waiting for approval to proceed with construction.
Although Van Heerden was not present at the time when the footage was taken, he said that according to his staff, nothing unusual had occurred. He conceded that on that day there was no ramp at that height, but maintained that no animals were injured.
According to Marten Van Leeuweren, KAWS chairperson, he was told that the sheep were taken to Van Heerden's farm where they were loaded into a single layer truck making the upper level ramp uneccesary.
Van Heerden said that they had done so in the past before the current ramps had been built. He explained that they didn't always take a full load to the abattoir, they only took the ones due to be to slaughtered so that the sheep did not have to spend unnecessarily long periods in the pens awaiting slaughter.
According to Van Heerden, the sheep must jump at the moment. He said that that was how it had been done prior to new legislation coming into place. He said that not a single sheep had been injured or broken a leg in this way. "They jump onto a rough surface, so they can't slip," he said.
Van Heerden further pointed out that there had been 113 sheep on the truck, not 130 as had been stated in KAWS' letter. According to Van Heerden, the truck can carry 160 head of sheep, so there was no overloading. He said that the drivers normally stop every 15 to 20 kilometres to check if the animals are okay. Whether or not the staff followed that instruction is unknown.
Van Heerden denied that one sheep was dying on the truck and only died when it was offloaded. He said that according to the onsite health inspector who was present when the sheep were offloaded there were two dead on arrival, although he was uncertain as to the cause of death.
"We don't want animals to die because then we can't use them and we lose money," said Van Heerden.
He explained that the only way to get the sheep and cows off the truck is with a prodder, especially on the bottom level. He maintained that there was nothing unusual in using the prodder. He said that he understood that they were not allowed to use prodders on pigs and calves, but pointed out that it is not necessary to use a prodder on pigs.
With regards to the cross-welded concrete reinforcing steel, Van Heerden said that all the trucks are constructed that way, the grid had been made to fit the truck by sliding into slots in such a way that it can be removed to clean the truck properly. He saw it as obvious that there would be excrement on the truck, as the sheep would naturally pass waste during such a journey.
This disturbing image was taken by KAWS at the Knysna Abattoir on Tuesday, October 29. According to the abattoir the animal was recorded as dead on its arrival.
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