Nulaid staff fired over maimed chickens

Published Apr 3, 2014

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Durban - Two Nulaid employees have been fired for mistreating chickens and selling sick birds to the public. Two others have been recommended for performance management.

This comes after an investigation by the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) at Nulaid’s (a subsidiary of Pioneer Foods) Rustenburg outlet.

The incident sparked outrage after an article in the Daily News last month.

Pioneer Foods spokeswoman, Lulu Khumalo, said the staff were fired after it was discovered they had been mistreating chickens at the Rustenburg outlet.

She said some employees at the outlet were also found to be selling the sick and badly treated chickens to the public at R21 each.

North West Department of Agriculture and fisheries spokeswoman, Bonolo Mohlakoana, said they had the same objectives as the NSPCA: to watch over the welfare of the animals.

“We will not be taking any steps against Nulaid as the NSPCA has already investigated the matter. If they did not act, then we would have stepped in.”

Hendrien Erasmus of the South African Poultry Association (Sapa) said it was a voluntary body that helped set standards.

“As we understand it, the NSPCA is in the process of instituting criminal charges. We do not condone abuse.”

Erasmus said they had also taken steps to remind its members of their responsibility in following the code of practice they agreed to adhere to when they joined the association.

Daily News

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