Making waves: should South Africa’s livestock exports by sea be allowed to continue?

Since October last year, two shipments totalling approximately 120 000 live sheep have been exported from East London Harbour in the Eastern Cape to the Middle Eastern markets of Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The sheep were purchased by Al Mawashi, a Kuwait-headquartered halaal meat processing and distribution company, and transported on one of the company’s specialised livestock transport ships.

The sheep were reportedly sourced from both larger- and smaller-scale farmers in the Eastern Cape. Agri Eastern Cape (Agri EC), representing organised agriculture in the province, and its president, Doug Stern, are supporters of these live sheep exports and have given a number of reasons for this.

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