The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) confirms that the urgent interim order obtained against Daybreak Foods on 10 May 2025 has been made final by the Gauteng Division of the High Court, Johannesburg, today, 23 May 2025.
Despite opposition from both Daybreak Foods and the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) against these minimum humane interventions, the NSPCA pursued this matter with unwavering determination and succeeded. The Court has upheld the NSPCA’s authority to act decisively against animal cruelty and affirmed our legal right to intervene when animals suffer.
Daybreak’s entire defence hinged on the claim that a R74 million cash injection from the PIC has resolved the animal welfare crisis. The Court, however, rejected this argument and focused squarely on the needs of the animals.
The Court held that: “The urgency was necessitated by the collapse of [Daybreak’s] responsibility to appropriately care for the chickens in their possession and under their control” and that the management of Daybreak “has collapsed and there was financial mismanagement of the available funds”.
This order compels Daybreak to:
- Immediately cease all inhumane culling practices;
- Feed all birds throughout its operations adequate and appropriate specific food until humane processing;
- Halt all breeding and placement of Day-Old Chicks until proper nutrition is ensured, subject to the NSPCA’s satisfaction or by agreement;
- Submit a detailed plan to the NSPCA within 5 working days on how it will resolve the crisis humanely;
- Allow the NSPCA access to all its premises; and
- Pay the NSPCA’s legal costs – jointly with the PIC.
Our teams were on the ground on the Daybreak Farms in Bela-Bela and Mookgopong, Limpopo for 12 days, confronting the grim realities these animals endure.
The NSPCA extends heartfelt thanks to Advocate Samantha Martin and Gittins Attorneys for their exceptional legal support in securing this outcome.
We will remain vigilant in ensuring Daybreak’s full compliance with the Court’s order and will continue to monitor the situation closely.
This disaster has come at enormous cost to the NSPCA in terms of the resources deployed to protect these animals. We appeal for urgent support. Donations can be made via our website or EFT to Standard Bank account 220 639 744 (Branch Code: 051 001).
If you are as passionate about animals and their well-being as we are, consider supporting our causes by donating.
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