The High Court of South Africa, Mpumalanga Division, Mbombela, granted an order on 22 November 2024, after the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) approached the Court on an urgent basis to seek relief for the suffering animals of Marloth Park.
Although geographically categorised as a town, Marloth Park is unique in that residents share their properties with free-roaming wildlife. Managed by the Nkomazi Local Municipality, the town borders to the north, east, and west with the Kruger National Park – a further cause of concern in terms of movement of animals and spread of disease.
Sadly, the mismanagement of the environment has led to severe wildlife overpopulation and overgrazing, which has had devastating consequences for the animals, including illnesses, starvation, and death.
The NSPCA has for over a decade warned about the increasing overpopulation of wildlife and overgrazing in the town, all of which have been left unaddressed. Further, a “blanket interdict” imposed by a residential group in 2017 prohibited the culling of animals in the town. In August 2024, the NSPCA urged the Local Municipality, as well as the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MPTA), to take urgent action to address the crisis. The NSPCA emphasises that addressing the current situation requires humane and effective solutions to alleviate the suffering of starving animals.
Considering the authorities’ continued inaction, and with their hands tied by the 2017 interdict, the NSPCA sought an urgent interdict against the responsible parties. We welcome the Order by the Mpumalanga High Court that has ruled that the Municipality must urgently address the overpopulation crisis in Marloth Park by implementing humane population control strategies and must provide supplementary feed and veterinary care where necessary.
We extend our greatest thanks to Advocate Samantha Martin, whose extensive knowledge and experience in environmental law brought the victory to finality, as well as Anthony Berlowitz Attorneys.
The NSPCA is disappointed that it has, yet again, been forced to intervene where governmental authorities have failed to act timeously. Tragically, it is the animals that suffer most from this neglect. Any strategies implemented by stakeholders will be carefully monitored and evaluated by the NSPCA’s Wildlife Protection Unit to prevent animals from suffering.
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