Donkey slaughter has come under renewed scrutiny in South Africa after Karoo Donkey Sanctuary and partner organisations called for a full national ban, reports Cape {town} Etc.
In a press release shared by the Karoo Donkey Sanctuary via Facebook on 29 April, the group said legal slaughter for skins continues despite a continental push to end the trade.
The statement refers to the African Union’s 15-year moratorium on commercial donkey slaughter, adopted in February 2024.
The sanctuary said member states must still incorporate the decision into national law before enforcement can take effect. It added that South Africa has opted for a controlled export system, allowing up to 10500 donkeys to be slaughtered annually for their skins, citing a report by Brooke.
Concerns escalated in April after an NSPCA inspector found 180 undernourished donkeys at a registered slaughter facility in North West. The sanctuary described the discovery as deeply troubling and called for urgent intervention.
‘We cannot sit back knowing that hundreds of innocent donkeys are being legally slaughtered in South Africa every day,’ the group said.
Campaigners, including Highveld Horse Care Unit and Ban Animal Trading South Africa, have urged the public to contact Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen and support a petition calling for stronger protections.
They maintain that aligning local law with the AU moratorium would mark a critical step in safeguarding donkey welfare nationwide.
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Picture: Karoo Donkey Sanctuary / Facebook
