Despite an interdict to have Tswale, the well-known elephant from the Lowhills farm in the Onderberg, removed from the farm, the tenants refuse to do so.

Lowvelder recently reported that the owners of Lowhills farm, Shofeeds (Pty) Ltd in Parys, Free State, approached the high court in the city for an urgent interdict to have the animal removed from the farm.

#Tswale and Modjadji wild caught decades ago elephants from Selati Private Game Reserve, trained for elephant backed safaris, utilised for years in the industry. Recently chained up and forgotten Modjadji suffered horrific injury. Read the tragic story https://t.co/QTaEolgOeO pic.twitter.com/CVtF6jYttf

— PRO ELEPHANT NETWORK (@ProEleNetwork) February 20, 2023

Tswale is a rescue elephant that has been living on the farm and been used for human interaction for about two years.

ALSO READ: Tswale must be moved, Mbombela High Court orders

Shofeeds applied for an urgent interdict against Johan Moller, Sonell Joubert, and Conference and Management Solutions CC, who all operate from the farm.

#Tswale @ProEleNetwork is appealing to the owner of a bull elephant Tswale in Hectorspruit to retire him from long service in the tourism industry, his female companion, chained up and unable to escape wild herd of elephant. was euthanised due to horrific injuries. pic.twitter.com/aZJjM4scpf

— EMS Foundation (@emsfoundationsa) February 20, 2023

In Shofeeds’ submission to the court, they requested that the animal and his handler, Amos Jivendava, must leave the farm and that no interaction between members of the public and the elephant be allowed.

ALSO READ: 100km race in 25 hours for Tswale the elephant

They argued that there is the possibility of civil or even criminal liability by the owner of the farm should someone visiting or interacting with Tswale get hurt or even be killed.

The interdict was granted and served on the respondents shortly after the court case.

South Africa: Tswale the rescue elephant must be moved, High Court orders https://t.co/oqPdDiXcOD

— NextGEM (@NextGEM2018) June 9, 2024

Stefan Scheepers, the lawyer of the applicants, said on Tuesday that the seven-day period for the respondents to act on the interdict expired last Thursday.

ALSO READ: Dispute erupts over privately owned elephant near Hectorspruit

“As of Tuesday, our information is that they did not adhere to the interdict. The elephant is still on the farm.”

He said his clients are currently investigating further legal steps against the respondents.

“The EMS Foundation remains deeply concerned for the safety and well-being of Tswale”. Dispute erupts over privately owned elephant near Hectorspruit https://t.co/ewX0ghZjjN @Mtpatourism @ProEleNetwork @Lowvelder

— EMS Foundation (@emsfoundationsa) March 2, 2024

Neither Moller nor Joubert responded to numerous requests for comment on why they are ignoring the interdict.