http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Neighbours-angry-about-slaughter-20100927
Port Elizabeth - Residents of Bluewater Bay, an upmarket suburb in PE, are furious after a beast was slaughtered in a garden as part of a cultural ritual over the weekend.
Maureen Gardiner of Claude Crescent said she and other neighbours were traumatised by the incident.
"The animal was tied to a pole on Friday night and on Saturday was dragged down the road on a rope before it was later slaughtered in an open garden in front of everyone.
"The screaming of that animal is still haunting me. Our own pets were so traumatised that they don't even bark anymore.
"It is really not fair towards animal lovers like ourselves," said Gardiner.
"All of us here have our own culture and we should respect one another. We are no longer in the dark ages."
Permission
Gardiner, who lives across the road from these neighbours, reported the incident to police.
Officials then showed her a letter from the municipality in which these residents were given permission to perform the ritual on their property.
Municipal spokesperson Kupido Baron said on Sunday that the metro supported the right of residents to perform cultural practices, especially if they were responsible and informed the municipality about their intentions in advance.
But DA councillor Terry Herbst was irate because he felt residents had not been informed in time about the matter.
According to the letter of permission, a municipal official issued the notice on September 21 in which residents were informed that a cultural slaughter and ceremony would be held on September 24 and 25.
Professor Hennie van As, legal expert at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, said he believed notice three days ahead of an event was sufficient.
Port Elizabeth - Residents of Bluewater Bay, an upmarket suburb in PE, are furious after a beast was slaughtered in a garden as part of a cultural ritual over the weekend.
Maureen Gardiner of Claude Crescent said she and other neighbours were traumatised by the incident.
"The animal was tied to a pole on Friday night and on Saturday was dragged down the road on a rope before it was later slaughtered in an open garden in front of everyone.
"The screaming of that animal is still haunting me. Our own pets were so traumatised that they don't even bark anymore.
"It is really not fair towards animal lovers like ourselves," said Gardiner.
"All of us here have our own culture and we should respect one another. We are no longer in the dark ages."
Permission
Gardiner, who lives across the road from these neighbours, reported the incident to police.
Officials then showed her a letter from the municipality in which these residents were given permission to perform the ritual on their property.
Municipal spokesperson Kupido Baron said on Sunday that the metro supported the right of residents to perform cultural practices, especially if they were responsible and informed the municipality about their intentions in advance.
But DA councillor Terry Herbst was irate because he felt residents had not been informed in time about the matter.
According to the letter of permission, a municipal official issued the notice on September 21 in which residents were informed that a cultural slaughter and ceremony would be held on September 24 and 25.
Professor Hennie van As, legal expert at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, said he believed notice three days ahead of an event was sufficient.
