DA welcomes resumption of direct exports of horses to EU after 14-year ban

CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA) has welcomed the resumption of direct exports of horses to the European market after a 14-year ban. 

The ban had been in place since 2010 due to African horse sickness. 

The first shipment of 32 horses left the Cape Town International Airport for Belgium last weekend. 

Before the ban was lifted, horses could only be exported from South Africa via Mauritius and the United States.

DA Western Cape spokesperson on agriculture, Noko Masipa, said this reduced the profitability of the trade for South African exporters.

"The lifting of the ban further provides assurance that the Western Cape government, through its partnership role, is doing everything it can to ensure that the Growth for Jobs strategy advances toward achieving a R1 trillion economy by 2035," Masipa said.