Dr Sameer Abbas, a veterinary surgeon practising in Potchefstroom, has been disciplined by the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) after refusing to hand over evidence regarding Thandi Modise's 'cannibal pig farm'.
The farm first hit the news in July of 2014 after the NSPCA found fifty-three pigs, 19 goats and sheep, one goose and seven chickens dead on the farm. The pigs that had not died were so starved that they had started eating the fallen.
A neighbouring farmer had told the SPCA he saw cows trying to climb over the farm's electric fence to try and reach water.
“I am not a farmer. I am trying to farm. I am learning. But if you are a woman and you are learning, you are not allowed to make mistakes,” Modise claimed at the time.
Criminal charges were laid against Modise, who is the chairperson of the National Council of Provinces.
According to the NSPCA, Abbas had taken his own photos of the farm after they had gained entrance under a court order.
He also took tissue samples of the animals for analysis, which the NSPCA expected would form the basis of his report in the docket relating to criminal charges being pressed against Modise.
At least until Abbas sent an email to the NSPCA claiming he didn't want anything more to do with the case.
"The NSPCA was taken aback by this declaration, confirming that it was the first time in the organisation’s 59 year history that a Veterinarian had undertaken work for the NSPCA then refused to provide a report," the organisation said in a media release.
The committee found him guilty of contravening SAVC rules, and his licence to practise has been suspended for six months, with the suspension being suspended for two years.
Meanwhile the police say they are still investigating the case, and are still waiting for Modise's affidavit.
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