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...
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Deadline for SASSA Card transition to Postbank extended to next month

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PRETORIA - The Ministers of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi and Social Development, Nokuzola Tolashe, has confirmed that the deadline for beneficiaries to swop their gold SASSA card for the black Postbank card has been extended from 28 February to 20 March 2025.

"We have listened to the deep concerns and frustrations from our social grant beneficiaries and we trust that this extension will provide much needed time for grant recipients.
"We strongly encourage our beneficiaries to make sure that they change to the black Postbank card as soon as they can, and well ahead of the 20 March 2025 deadline," said Malatsi.

"We would like to emphasise that grant payments will continue as per usual, even after the 20th of March deadline. If beneficiaries haven't exchanged their cards by then, their grants will still be paid, but they will need to visit their nearest Post Office branch to access their funds."

To make sure that the department is able to assist beneficiaries to swop their cards as efficiently as possible, Malaysia said the departments and entities are working together to add more human capacity and are working with retailers to increase the number of sites across the country.

"Mobile offices will also be dispatched to focus on rural areas and to ensure that we assist as many people as possible.

"We will monitor the process closely and will receive daily updates as to how the process is going so that we are able to respond quickly to any further issues that may arise," he promised.

Furthermore, the 20th of March deadline marks the date when the SASSA Gold Cards will stop working, not the last day to apply for the new card. After the 20th of March, beneficiaries will still be able to apply for and receive their Postbank Black Cards.

"We are also working with community leaders and local authorities to share clear information and offer assistance where needed.

"Making sure that beneficiaries are able to swop their old gold SASSA cards as easily as possible is our priority and we will update the public regularly," Malatsi concluded.

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