A foul stench engulfing the South African city of Cape Town is coming from a ship carrying cattle that is docked in the port, officials have said.

“We are in hell,” one resident wrote on X.

Another posted: “Cape Town absolutely reeks today. The ship is 8km away, and I can still smell it…

“I hope this situation can be sorted out swiftly. Not just for the personal comfort of Cape Town residents but for the poor cattle being kept in these horrible conditions.”

City authorities launched an investigation and inspected sewage facilities for leaks before the source of the smell was discovered: a ship docked in the harbour carrying 19,000 live cattle from Brazil to Iraq.

Zahid Badroodien, the official in the mayor’s office in charge of water and sanitation, said the ship is due to depart soon – likely to the relief of residents who had an unpleasant start to their working week.

The 190m-long (623ft) Al Kuwait is a Kuwaiti-flagged livestock vessel, according to the Marine Traffic website.

It docked in Cape Town to load feed for the cattle, the NSPCA said.

The animal welfare charity has launched an investigation and said one of its veterinary consultants had been on the ship to assess the conditions.

“We acknowledge the concerns raised by members of the public regarding the noticeable stench emanating from the ship, reaching the city centre and surrounds,” it said in a statement on its website.

“This smell is indicative of the awful conditions the animals endure, having already spent two-and-a-half weeks on board, with a build-up of faeces and ammonia.

“The stench onboard is unimaginable, yet the animals face this every single day.”

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The NSPCA’s Grace de Lange told Eyewitness News: “We’ve had to euthanise about five of the cattle due to injuries.

“The smell is absolutely horrendous so you can just imagine what those animals must be going through, and they still have to endure a long time at sea to their final destination.”

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