Sekusuke Omkhulu Umsindo Ngolwemvume Yokuhlaba

By: Zilungile Mkhize

EThekwini Municipality’s Health Unit is receiving numerous enquiries about processes to follow when slaughtering animals for ritual and religious purposes.

This comes ahead of the Eid-al-Adha celebrations.

The Red Meat Regulations of 2004, which refer to religious purposes of the Muslim faith, states a person must obtain written permission from the local authority where slaughtering will take place.

The eThekwini Metro’s spokesperson, Msawakhe Maisela, says eThekwini recognises and respects communities’ traditional, cultural and religious beliefs.

“The Municipality is required to give effect to national legislation and regulations to ensure the humane slaughter of animals, to safeguard public health and the health of those who consume the meat, to prevent health-related issues and to ensure that such practices are done in the interests of harmony and respect for other people’s rights within communities,” says the municipality.