Tuli Elephant Case - Tenth Anniversary

(2008-10-14)

Ten years ago the National Council of SPCAs investigated and uncovered cruelty to juvenile elephants on the property of African Game Services and laid criminal charges against Riccardo Ghiazza. The elephants had been forcibly removed from their natural herds in Botswana and brought to the property of African Game Services near Brits in the North West Province for “training”.

Riccardo Ghiazza and his employee Wayne Stockigt were found guilty of cruelty and convicted.

The significance of the case cannot be underestimated. It made international news. Public reaction included people chaining themselves to railings in Washington and London and the new South African flag being burned in Trafalgar Square, London, in protest. The Spice Girls, Prince Aga Khan amongst others personally wrote appeals to Nelson Mandela to intervene.

For the NSPCA it was effectively a coming of age as it was demonstrated world-wide that our organisation works for the prevention of cruelty to ALL animals and that we have the courage of our convictions and will not hesitate to take action.

On this tenth anniversary, the National Council of SPCAs feels vindicated for the stance we took at the time and for all we have said, done and believed in throughout the case.

The NSPCA always said it was an issue of cruelty. The crux of the matter was animal abuse. There was no hidden agenda.

A commemorative dinner to celebrate this noteworthy event will be held on 18 October 2008, hosted by the NSPCA at the St George Hotel in Centurion. Delegates from SPCAs country-wide will be in attendance as will individuals who played notable roles during the Tuli elephant case.

The Tuli elephant case will never be forgotten by those who were involved in the investigation or prosecution process. The impact of the Tuli elephant case on the welfare of animals in South Africa is lasting.