Modise to meet police investigators over pig farm scandal

Almost four months after dead and starving animals were removed from her farm in North West, Thandi Modise says she is now ready to discuss the case with police.

Modise, who is chair of the National Council of Provinces in parliament, said this week she was "not interested" in commenting on the farm.

But police confirmed they have scheduled a meeting with her about the case next week.

North West police spokesman Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said yesterday an initial meeting in July had been postponed at Modise's request "due to the nature of her work".

"We haven't reached a point where we need to use helicopters or other extreme measures to track her down. While we are waiting for her statement, the investigating officer is ... taking statements from other people involved in the case," he said.

Ngubane said even if the planned meeting did not take place next week there would be no harm done because the case was not only about Modise.

"Like she did previously, she will look at her diary for an available date and inform us. We understand the nature of her work and business; like all other people we have to book an appointment with her. We have never received any problems from her side, she has been co-operating with us from day one."

Ngubane said at this stage there was no need for North West police to call on colleagues in the Western Cape to take Modise's statement because she had told them she would travel to Potchefstroom to meet them.

On Friday, the National Prosecuting Authority said it had not received a docket for a decision on whether to prosecute, but the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is bent on ensuring the prosecution of those responsible for the treatment of the animals on the farm Modderfontein near Potchefstroom.

In July, the NSPCA and police removed 53 dead pigs. Those that were still alive had begun eating the carcasses of the dead ones.

At the time, the only worker on Modise's farm, Tebogo "Nino" Moekaedi, and his family, had been there for two months without pay and with no animal feed.

They, too, were going hungry and Moekaedi said he has yet to be paid his outstanding wages.

The NSPCA previously confirmed that some of the rescued animals had been diagnosed with highly contagious diseases, coccidiosis and septicaemia, which can be transferred to humans.

The organisation has been conducting monthly inspections at the farm to ensure the welfare of the remaining 21 cows and four calves born earlier this month.

NSPCA spokeswoman Grace de Lange said conditions had improved and that the remaining animals appeared to be in an acceptable condition.

On Wednesday an employee at the farm, Tebogo Letsatsi, and a friend of Modise's, Slim Mogale, said they were now taking care of the animals full time.

The men said they had been trained by the Department of Agriculture in how to care for animals and how to run a farm.

Said Mogale: "It will take us time to recover from the damage."

Modise, who bought the farm with a R4.8 -million loan from the Land Bank in 2011, has blamed her previous farm manager and an employee for leaving the farm unattended for weeks.

"We have lost quite a lot, if we can put it in monetary terms I would say close to R1.9-million," said Mogale.

"All the farming equipment including a tractor, a bull and two cars were stolen. Vandals also came in and stole copper," he said.

He added that a vet came to test the cattle almost every week. Modise also visited regularly.

"We have stocked up on food for when the animals come back. Thandi still has that hope that she will get some sheep, goats, ducks and chickens back from NSPCA and this is where she will retire," said Mogale.

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