An Eastern Cape farmer has been ordered by the Stutterheim Equality Court to pay R50,000 in damages to the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) and issue a formal apology after being found guilty of racially abusing two animal welfare inspectors.
The case centred on Gregory John Miles, who was accused of subjecting Inspectors Singh and Khumalo to verbal abuse during their visits to his sheep farm in March. The inspections were prompted by a complaint. According to NSPCA spokesperson Jacques Peacock, the inspectors found the farm unattended. As they were leaving, Miles confronted them, used offensive language, and locked the farm gates, temporarily preventing them from departing.
When the inspectors returned the following day, Miles allegedly continued his racial slurs—including calling the officers “baboons”—and attempted to obstruct them in their duties. The inspectors reported the incidents to the South African Human Rights Commission in East London and opened a case of crimen injuria.
In court, Miles denied the allegations and argued that his actions did not constitute a human rights violation. The court, however, ruled against him, ordering a written apology and the payment of damages. Furthermore, the related criminal case, which had been provisionally withdrawn, will now be reinstated.
NSPCA officials strongly condemned Miles’s conduct. “No inspector should ever face racial abuse or obstruction while performing their lawful duties,” said Nazareth Appalsamy, manager of the NSPCA’s Farm Animal Protection Unit.
The ruling underscores the legal protections afforded to inspectors in the execution of their duties and highlights the serious consequences for racial abuse in South Africa.
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