By REGINALD KANYANE
25 May 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) said it welcomes the decision by the North West Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to pursue long-overdue prosecution against the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and its Special Infantry Capability Unit, for the appalling abuse and neglect of military horses in Potchefstroom.
The DA said this prosecution comes seven years after the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) uncovered harrowing conditions in which horses were left to starve, suffer and die under the SANDF’s watch.
The DA spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans, Chris Hattingh, who is also a Member of Parliament (MP), said 25 animals were in such severe condition that they had to be euthanized, while 69 were later removed by the NSPCA to prevent further suffering. Hattingh said despite a formal agreement with the NSPCA and numerous warnings, the SANDF failed to act.
“This dereliction of duty not only highlights a grotesque failure in animal care but also reflects a broader culture of impunity and institutional neglect within the defence establishment.
“The DA stands in full support of the NSPCA’s relentless efforts in seeking justice. We demand that those responsible within the SANDF be held criminally accountable and that systemic reforms be implemented to prevent future abuses,” he said.
Hattingh further said the SANDF’s disregard for animal welfare is an offence against South Africa’s military equestrian history — a tradition marked by discipline, care, and operational excellence.
The Guardian 