Hundreds of farm animals missing after dams collapse near Malmesbury
Three Swartland communities - Dassenberg, Chatsworth and Riverlands - have been affected after the retention dams collapsed, causing heavy flooding.
Humanitarian aid group, Gift of the Givers, provided relief to aid to residents of Riverlands, near Malmesbury, after a retention dam wall collapsed on 8 August 2024. Picture: Supplied
CAPE TOWN - The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said hundreds of farm animals were missing in the floods that hit Riverlands near Malmesbury after three agricultural dam walls collapsed.
Three Swartland communities - Dassenberg, Chatsworth and Riverlands - have been affected after the retention dams collapsed, causing heavy flooding.
SPCA spokesperson Belinda Abraham said that inspectors from the Cape of Good Hope SPCA and Swartland SPCA were on the ground looking for displaced animals.
READ: Relief efforts underway after dams collapse near Malmesbury
"The flooded areas can only be accessed on foot, and we're hard at work searching for survivors amongst those whose lives have sadly already been lost to the water. There have been many animal casualties. Discussions with community leaders suggest that hundreds of farm animals and horses are missing, and that all their animal feed has been washed away," Abraham said.
Abraham added that the communities desperately need donations.
"Please consider a donation of either oat hay, fresh fruit or vegetables or any pet food, blankets or any animal care essentials, and drop off can be made at the Cape of Good Hope, Darling and Swartland SPCAs as well as at the Riverlands Primary School, where there's a really well-coordinated effort to distribute good to the community," she said.