NSPCA welcomes long-awaited reform for lion captivity breeding ban

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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...

TRAGIC: 46-year-old man drowns on New Year's Day

NSRI Melkbosstrand duty crew. 


On Wednesday, 1 January, NSRI Melkbosstrand duty crew and the CoCT (City of Cape Town) water rescue network were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Tableview Beach front.

Hein Köhne, NSRI Melkbosstrand station commander, indicated that NSRI rescue swimmers, CoCT lifeguards, BBSL (Big Bay Surf Lifesaving) lifeguards, CoCT Law Enforcement, the SA Police Services, ER24 ambulance services, Netcare 911 ambulance services, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, WC Government Health EMS, Police WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services) and Cape Town DRM (Disaster Risk Management) responded.


West Coast coast watchers were alerted, and the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter was placed on alert by EMS Metro Control.

A BBSL IRB (Inflatable Rescue Boat) and an NSRI Melkbosstrand JetRib rescue craft were launched and responded.

"On arrival on the scene rescuers on the shoreline reported a father and daughter, using an NSRI pink rescue buoy had reached an adult man in the water, in the surf zone, who had been caught in rip currents while swimming. The Good Samaritans father and daughter were keeping the man afloat with the aid of the pink rescue buoy."


(The father has been trained in lifesaving and the daughter is a former BBSL lifeguard. They are locals.)

 Köhne detailed that the lifeguards rescue boat reached them in the surf zone and took the casualty man onboard their rescue craft and he was brought to the shore - he was unresponsive.

"Once ashore paramedics commenced CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts on the 46-year-old man, from Philippi, Cape Town.

"The lifeguards relaunched their rescue craft and brought the father and daughter, Good Samaritans, ashore. They were not injured. They are commended for their efforts.

"Despite extensive CPR efforts by paramedics, after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted sadly, he was declared deceased," he explained.

The body of the man was taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

Police have opened an Inquest docket.

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