NSPCA welcomes long-awaited reform for lion captivity breeding ban

-
Image
CAPE TOWN - The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) has  welcomed the announcement by Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, on the imminent publication of the Lion Prohibition Notice banning new captive lion breeding facilities.   This long-awaited reform marks a pivotal milestone in dismantling an industry built on systemic cruelty, reflecting years of legal action, public advocacy, and inspections by the NSPCA. The prohibition confirms what the NSPCA has long exposed: the captive lion industry has operated largely unabated for decades, inflicting severe animal welfare violations, damaging South Africa’s conservation reputation, and flouting constitutional obligations to protect sentient beings. While limited to new facilities, this ban sends a clear signal that the commodification of lions for tourism, hunting, and the bone trade is no longer defensible. The NSPCA’s decade-long investigations have laid bare the industry’s brutality. O...
Post a Comment

#BacktoSchool: Sharp focus on scholar transport operators

-

CAPE TOWN - With the focus on ‘back to school’ this week, the City of Cape Town has urged scholar transport operators to brush up on regulations and ensure that their vehicles are fit for purpose, not just for the sake of their young passengers, but road safety in general. 

According to the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith cautioned that just like public transport operators, scholar transport service providers are required, by law, to obtain an operating licence from the Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE).

"The City's role is to monitor for compliance, but also to enforce road safety legislation," he said.

According to Smith, during the 2024 academic year, the Transport Enforcement Unit conducted 72 operations focusing specifically on scholar transport across the metropole, issued 6 226 fines for various transgressions and impounded 246 vehicles, including light delivery vehicles, sedans, amaphelas and minibuses – in most of the cases, drivers did not have operating licences


"I want to thank the operators who abide by the law and put their passengers' needs and safety first. That said, we are well aware that many people take to the road, transporting far more children than the law allows, in vehicles that really aren't up for it. Many of these people do not even have driving licences, much less operating licences. We take action where we can, but I also ask that parents be far more circumspect in their choice of transport providers. When you sign up, insist on meeting the driver, seeing their credentials and also the vehicle that your child will be traveling in, for your own peace of mind, but also to help keep operators in the right lane," said Smith.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Founder of Gift of the Givers backs KZN Police Commissioner Lt General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi ahead of President address

-
Image
KWAZULU-NATAL - Founder of Gift of the Givers, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman has defended KZN Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi after he made explosive claims about Minister, Senzo Mchunu. During a media briefing, Mkhwanazi made several startling revelations, accusing senior police leadership, including Mchunu, of interfering in investigations into politically motivated killings, corruption, and collusion with criminal networks. Mchunu has denied all allegations against him. Dr Sooliman met with General Mkhwanazi to get a better perspective about his claims. Following the meeting, he described Mkhwanazi as a Beacon of Hope for SA. "The SAPS is so often vilified, insulted, demeaned, maligned, accused of corruption, inaction and inefficiency. Yes, there are those within the SAPS, as in every institution, that have failed to perform, but to generalise and paint an entire institution with the same negativity is disingenuous, demoralising, unjust and unfair to those men and wome...
Read more

#RamaphosaAddress: Minister of Police placed on special leave - DETAILS

-
Image
CAPE TOWN - "In order for the Commission to execute its functions effectively, I have decided to put the Minister of Police Mr Senzo Mchunu on a leave of absence with immediate effect," said President Cyril Ramaphosa after establishing a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the crimes and leadership of various institutions implicated in the claims made by KZN Commissioner Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Ramaphosa said Mchunu has undertaken to give his full cooperation to the Commission to enable it to do its work. "I have decided to appoint Professor Firoz Cachalia as acting Minister of Police," he said. ABOUT THE ACTING POLICE MINISTER   Professor Cachalia is currently a professor of law at the University of the Witwatersrand and is the chairperson of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council. He previously served as an MEC of Community Safety in Gauteng.
Read more

Deep house sensation Senior Oat cries for gigs, not donations

-
Image
LIMPOPO - In 2022, when all hope was lost by many due to the effects of COVID-19, deep house sensation Senior Oat uplifted the masses with his soothing hit All in You . Featuring the talented, Kemy Chienda, the song became a hit across board. However, this producer from Limpopo enjoyed little success from the song due to the rapid rise of a new genre that was taking the music world by storm. Amapiano vanguarded by the likes of Kabza de Small and DJ Maphorisa, left little room for other genres to breathe - suffocating the rise of Senior Oats and the likes. Frustrated by the lack of gigs and mounting personal bills, the DJ took to his socials to plead with promoters and club owners for gigs. "Hey guys, I wanna share something real. My heart has been heavy lately. I’m going through a tough time financially, I’m behind on bills and it’s really bad. "Finding gigs lately has been really difficult, and it’s made things even harder," he said "I’m not asking for...
Read more