Inside the abattoir: understanding the religious and cultural dimensions of the experiences of Muslim, Jewish, and secular slaughterers in South Africa

Approximately 11 million animals are slaughtered annually in South Africa. This study aimed to explore the experiences of slaughterers working in abattoirs to better address their emotional and physical challenges and how they deal with them. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 participants: 10 halaal, two kosher, and 12 secular slaughterers in 11 different religious and secular abattoirs from Western Cape, South Africa. The participants were all men aged between 25 and 67 years old. The interview texts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The results revealed the emotional and physical toll these men experienced because of their work in slaughtering animals in abattoirs. The study highlighted the dimensions of religion and culture involved in their work, as many men framed their work in terms of religion, culture, and community obligation.