By: Hertha Ekandjo

The Keetmanshoop municipality’s environmental health inspector, Rudo-Whan Benade, says that no Keetmanshoop residents have the right to slaughter animals at their homes, especially for sales purposes, as only abattoirs were the ones that had the right to slaughter animals for sales.

The Keetmanshoop municipality last week warned its residents against illegally slaughtering animals at their homes.

“The purpose of an abattoir is to slaughter animals for sales. We have noticed that there was a lot slaughtering of animals for sales purposes, but it is not going through the right processes and procedures,” said Benade.

Benade added that when someone is planning on slaughtering his own animal, it is not a problem as long as they notify the municipality about it before taking the step.

Moreover, he said that one should consider the general health regulation of 1969, the red meat regulation and the Local Authorities Act 23 of 1992 before performing such an act.

“Due to the number of complaints coming out regarding the act of illegal slaughtering, we took it upon ourselves to inform and to make the public aware that there is legislation, which has been coming on for years, which people along the line stopped adhering to,” he noted.

He further mentioned that, at times, it might cause discomfort to neighbours when they see an animal being slaughtered, stating that that was one of the contributing factors of this warning.

Meanwhile, former Keetmanshoop Mayor Gaudentia Krohne said that the ban was not discussed with council members, especially those representing the Swapo party in the Keetmanshoop municipality, and they only got to know about the notice via social media platforms.

“It was not communicated to us, the two Swapo councillors, so it is the decisions of councillors in the majority. But they are referring to an act which is in existence, but it has not been implemented. Therefore for health reasons, they said that people should not slaughter animals in the vicinity of the town unless they inform the municipality,” she said.

The municipality last week, through a public notice, informed the residents that no person was allowed to slaughter goats, cattle, sheep or pigs in the vicinity of the town.

Residents were also warned against slaughtering without the Council’s consent.

The notice signed by the town’s acting CEO, Samuel Nashima, said only authorised abattoirs and approved butcheries are allowed to slaughter animals in the town.

According to the municipality, the sale of meat should only be conducted from authorised businesses, and tuck shops are only allowed to sell pre-packed meat products they have acquired from registered butcheries and abattoirs.

The notice further read that those who sell meat from their residences or home shops were required to keep receipts from where they had bought the meat.

Furthermore, the notice noted that slaughtering for traditional occasions such as weddings was, however, allowed, but residents must first seek Council’s approval.

The municipality added that those who slaughter for their own consumption must do so outside the town’s boundaries.

The notice said that the Council is acting on the General Health Regulation of 1969 and the Red meat regulation, and the Local Authorities Act 23 of 1992.