Animal welfare took centre stage at a Parliamentary committee hearing last week to debate whether a 'duty to care' clause should be included in the South African Constitution.

The Joint Constitutional Review Committee hearing followed a decade of lobbying by Compassion in World Farming (South Africa), Animal Voice and other animal organisations for the inclusion of animal well-being in the SA Constitution. The hearing, which took place on Friday, 4th August, 2006 was attended by officials of the Department of Agriculture (DoA) which is responsible for the implementation of legislation dealing with the protection of animals.

In its most recent submission, dated 6th February this year, Compassion in World Farming (South Africa) requested the Constitutional Review Committee to consider amending the Constitution to include a 'duty to care' clause relating to the environment and animals.

Constitutional Review Committee chairman, Dr E A Schoeman explained: 'Cruelty to animals is a bad reflection on a civilised society and this committee will continue to be bombarded (with submissions by the public) for as long as the abuse of animals continues to take place.'

He said the question before the committee was whether animals were sufficiently protected by current legislation. If not, would it be sufficient for current legislation to be reviewed and strengthened? Or should the protection of animals be entrenched within the Constitution in order to give it political sway.  He said: 'We can have all the acts (to protect animals) in the world but if they are not applied, what does it help?'

Dr Sizwe Mkhize, the DoA's Chief Director: Sustainable Resources, Management and Use, told the hearing that existing animal legislation was outdated, not really implemented and needed to be reviewed. 'Every South African needs to be aware that animals deserve some kind of respect,' he said.

Mr Keith Ramsay, Senior Livestock Specialist with the DoA, suggested that a new act for animals should be developed and be renamed as the Animal Care Act. 'We need to promote a culture of caring as opposed to the need to protect against cruelty,' he said. 'We need to move away from a concept of welfare to a concept of care. Animal Care is far more proactive. Care teaches people to appreciate their animals.'

Dr Motseki Hlatshwayo, Senior Manager for Animal and Aqua Production at the DoA said that at the end of the day, it all boiled down to one question: Did your animals live well?

The Committee will now formally consider the DoA's input.

Commented Louise van der Merwe, Representative in South Africa for Compassion in World Farming who was invited to attend the hearing: 'With few exceptions, the spirit of Africa was always one of reverence for animals. There was no greater pride for an African man than to own well-nourished, contented cattle. It is the Western influence that mutilates, confines and reduces animal life to units of production. Within this context, a 'duty to care' fits absolutely into the spirit of Africa and into our Constitution which is deemed to be the conscience of the people and the foundation upon which moral regeneration can take root. We have 54 000 signatures to present  to Parliament appealing for the recognition of animal sentience.'

For further information, please contact:
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Compassion in World Farming (South Africa)
Contact details: (021) 852 8160
P O Box 825, Somerset West, 7129