The Democratic Alliance has asked the auditor general to investigate the case of a battling self-help dairy project near Hartebeesfontein in the North West.
It will also ask the public protector to look into the matter, provincial DA leader Chris Hattingh said on Friday.
”The destruction of a top Holstein stud on a top milk-producing farm within two years is indicative of the status of land reform.”
Various cows and calves were slaughtered on the farm after the animals were inspected by a team from the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) and a veterinarian.
”Twenty-four adult cows and six calves were beyond salvation,” the NSPCA said on Friday.
It said the farm, once a previously successful dairy establishment, is now being managed by the province’s land affairs department as a self-help farming project.
The Freedom Front Plus in the province has also said the failure of the project is an indication that the government’s land reform is unsuccessful.
Provincial FF+ leader Pieter Groenewald said it is further proof that taxpayers’ money is being wasted by the government and that the matter should be addressed in Parliament.
The NSPCA said earlier in the day it will lay criminal charges against the beneficiaries of the project — Syferlaagte Farm Trust.
According to the council, the government set up the scheme, originally with 30 members on the ”collective farm”.
This dwindled as individuals pulled out and very few people were then left to run the operation on limited resources.
”The reality is that the same 38 black families who worked and lived on the same land building a top Holstein stud over the past 40 years failed dismally in their endeavours to continue doing the same after being left on the land without any resources,” Hattingh said.
”It appears that these families’ usefulness for the government ended after the ceremonial handing[-over] media occasion.”
The party called on provincial Premier Edna Molewa to release emergency funds to prevent further human and animal disasters.
Commenting on the matter, the provincial agricultural department said the NSPCA had informed it that it would visit the farm with a veterinarian, who would provide a report on the condition of the cattle.
”Such a report was never discussed with the department and the NSPCA went ahead to slaughter the cattle,” departmental spokesperson Bigboy Moagi said.
He said the department was never given an opportunity to discuss the veterinarian’s report.
The NSPCA has also issued an official warning in terms of the Animal Protection Act relating to veterinarian instructions for the immediate medication on the rest of the herd.
Drastic action will be taken if this is not adhered to, it warned in a statement. — Sapa