A tragic and entirely avoidable owl death at Coca-Cola South Africa’s Midrand bottling plant last week has conservationists and the public up in arms. Details of the completely preventable owl death were made public by Brendan Murray of the Owl Rescue Centre.
“The owl death at Coca-Cola Midrand completely floored us,” he told The Citizen. All production had stopped in the bottling plant, and removing the owl was a matter of urgency. Except, Coca-Cola South Africa called a pest control company to do the job. The matter was quickly referred to the conservation group …
OWL DEATH AT COCA-COLA SOUTH AFRICA
As Murray from the Owl Rescue Centre hurried to the plant, he soon received another call saying not to worry because the owl had been killed. Back in February 2025, police arrested and charged a homeless man in Sea Point over an owl death. So, further repercussions are likely for Coca-Cola South Africa.
Moreover, the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) says it is investigating the matter. However, it says Coca-Cola South Africa has not been willing to talk about the owl death since the incident. “When we try to get hold of them; they just cut our calls,” says a council spokesperson.
CULTURE OF PROFITS OVER PRESERVATION
Murray says the owl death speaks to Coca-Cola South Africa’s priorities. “It has no respect for indigenous wildlife and was unwilling to lose revenue by rescuing the owl correctly,” Murray said. While deplorable, their actions are understandable in light of the company’s current problems.
Due to falling profits, the company is cutting jobs and closing plants in Bloemfontein and East London. The company announced last month (September 2025), that it plans to cut 680 jobs in a sweeping restructure. However, the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU) is pushing back against Coca-Cola. It says the drinks company did not engage with employees in proper discussions.
OWL DEATH SPARKS CALLS FOR BOYCOTT
Due to the worsening obesity crisis worldwide, sugary drinks are seeing a massive decline. And the same applies in in South Africa, leading to the company’s recent retrenchments. However, the owl death has ignited fresh outrage on social media.
South Africans have reacted vociferously, calling for an all-out boycott of the company: “That’s the last Coke for me,” wrote Tasha Sloan on X. Robyn Eshelby-Theart said on X, “The owl situation means there were rats in the plant. Ironically, the owl was doing pest control of its own. I will literally stop buying Coca-Cola now.”
Let us know what you think … Is an owl death on Coca-Cola property not so bad? Or is it an outcome that speaks to systemic issues within the company? Let us know in the comments section below …
