Published in Pretoria News, 20 November 2025
The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Agriculture heard a sharp critique from Stop Live Exports South Africa (SLESA) on 18 November, during a two-hour session requested by the organisation, the Pretoria News reported on 20 November 2025.
SLESA’s co-founder Michelle Taberer told the committee: ‘It seems as if the MPs view animal suffering as an “accepted consequence” of commerce.’
SLESA’s concerns were that the proposed law to formalise live-export by sea does not address animal welfare, noting severe issues such as long durations of confinement, filthy and overcrowded conditions, and inadequate veterinary care onboard.
Veterinarian Lynn Simpson – who has accompanied 57 live-export shipments – was quoted as stating: ‘In my experience there was no way that animals can be exported in such large numbers without inflicting unnecessary suffering.’
The article concludes by highlighting that while South African law prohibits land transport of animals beyond 18 hours, sea voyages for live-export can last up to three weeks – raising legal and ethical concerns about the practice.
Read more
- Parliament briefing: Live export cannot be regulated, it must be stopped
- Expert testimony: Why life export by sea cannot be made humane
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