- A spectacle at Newlands Forest on Saturday morning 10 February, during which a congregation of about 80 people carried live chickens on their way into the national parks area, led to visitors and animal lovers calling law enforcement and SPCA officials to intervene.
- Onlookers sent messages on a local Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) security WhatsApp group, alerting: “[A] whole group of people are coming into Newlands Forest with live chickens.”
- Witnesses alleged that an unknown congregation was possibly preparing for some kind of religious ritual in the forest along the stream.
A spectacle at Newlands Forest on Saturday morning 10 February, during which a congregation of about 80 people carried live chickens on their way into the national parks area, led to visitors and animal lovers calling law enforcement and SPCA officials to intervene.
At 09:39, onlookers sent messages on a local Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) security WhatsApp group, alerting: “[A] whole group of people are coming into Newlands Forest with live chickens.”
Witnesses alleged that an unknown congregation was possibly preparing for some kind of religious ritual in the forest along the stream.
On Facebook, members of the Newlands Forest Conservation Group alleged to have “witnessed chickens being carried upside down by their wings. The chickens [were] clearly distressed…”
A related comment remarked that a long procession of women, each carrying a trussed chicken by the legs or held under their arms, were “evicted” by park rangers near the stream running up a kloof in the forest, adding: “They intended to slaughter and dismember the chickens at the river, light a fire and eat them in some sort of ritual sacrifice… but this is all hearsay,” the author noted.
SANParks law enforcement spokesperson Lauren Clayton said: “The group was escorted out of Newlands Forest, as events or gatherings of this nature are not permitted without a permit”.
The group did not consult or inform SANParks of their intentions, she added.
Clayton continued that 62 chickens were accounted for “and the group exited the park with their livestock. “The SPCA engaged them regarding rules and regulations of animal welfare.”
SPCA intervenes
With regards to this incident, the Cape of Good Hope SPCA’s communication manager Belinda Abrahams said it was their understanding that the chickens were intended for religious sacrifice.
She also confirmed the leader of the church group was issued with a warning to ensure that all animals within her control were not ill-treated in the future and to follow the correct protocols to avoid contraventions of the law.
Abrahams added that the matter was resolved, the church leader informed of the correct process to follow and their investigation into some aspects of the day’s events is ongoing.
“Upon arrival at the scene, our inspector Ayanda Ngcope was directed by bystanders and met two workers who hiked with her to where the party had gathered”.
Park rangers were already on the scene and were directing the party out of the park.
“The inappropriate handling of the animals was addressed with those who were carrying chickens by their wings and our inspector educated the group on humane handling and the need for humane slaughter.”
She further pointed to the City’s Animal Keeping By-law on keeping and slaughtering of animals for religious, cultural, ceremonial and own consumption purposes:
It states: “no person may (a) slaughter any animal at any place other than at a registered abattoir; (c4) in the case of religious and cultural slaughtering, an application must be made in writing, 14 days prior to the event; and (8) stating “blood and other waste products from the carcass must be disposed of in a manner which will not become a public health nuisance”.
Many protested any such possible intent by the congregation and were vocally disgusted by what appeared to be intent to cause animal cruelty, pollution of natural water sources, health and fire hazards in the national parks area.
