You can now find more than 8000 casual online games collected in one place, South Africa’s largest online games website Games.co.za! Here you can play all kinds of casual online games directly in your browser, and completely for free. All games are filed under various handy categories, so just pick the type of game you like best and start playing right away!

You can play all sorts of games, from car games to barbie games, fighting and shooter games to puzzles and digital board and card games. Whatever your favourite game is, Games.co.za is sure to have just the game for you. Are you a big fan of a certain celebrity or cartoon character? Try using the search bar to look through the archives and find what you’re looking for, whether it’s Harry Potter, Ben 10, Batman, or something completely different.

Join Games.co.za on Facebook to keep up with our game of the day recommendation. New games are added every day, so come on over and check it out!

Video footage received by the NSPCA of an elephant being terrified and beaten has led to criminal charges being laid against the Brian Boswell Circus. This cruelty is shameful!

Picture credit: Animal Defenders International - file picture

The NSPCA has previously raised its serious concerns and objections to the unnecessary use of wild animals in circuses with the Department of Environmental Affairs and launched its “Celebrate the Wildness of Wild Animals” campaign in 2011 calling for members of the public to boycott circuses, which use wild animal acts in their travelling shows.

Over 30 countries have already banned the use of wild animals in circus, including Austria, Greece, Bolivia, Peru, Australia, Israel, Singapore and many more. The NSPCA calls on all animal lovers to stand together with them in sending a powerful message to Government that South Africans abhor cruelty and that the use of wild animals in circuses must finally be outlawed in this country. Visit their website for further information – www.nspca.co.za

The NSPCA does not believe that wild animals should be subjected to the conditions of circus life. Regular transport, cramped and bare temporary housing, forced training and performance, loud noises and crowds of people are all typical and often unavoidable realities for the animals. Performing inappropriate tricks in the name of entertainment also does nothing to foster respect for animals.

Animals in circuses do not benefit any educational, conservational or scientific cause.

The NSPCA has been vigorous in drawing the public’s attention to the unnecessary confinement and training of wild animals in circuses for entertainment purposes and continues to encourage people to boycott circuses, which make use of wild animals. We have also raised our gravest concerns with the Department of Environmental Affairs regarding this practice. At present it is not illegal in this country for circuses to include wild animal acts.

Regarding the elephant beating seen in the footage shown on Carte Blanche, the NSPCA took immediate action when the footage was received and criminal charges were laid against the handler and the Brian Boswell Circus. This matter will follow the legal process, as is required by the statutes of this country. It is due to these legal processes that the elephants in question remain in the custody of the Brian Boswell circus.

You can make the difference…

I don't want to be a pet - I just want to live free

A public appeal is made for anyone with information relating to the ownership and keeping of a tiger cub, found dead in Benoni, to come forward.

This assistance is required to enable the NSPCA’s Wildlife Protection Unit and Gauteng Conservation Enforcement to trace exactly what happened to a female tiger cub, estimated to be approximately 10 weeks old, and to bring offender/s to book.

The cub was found by surprised residents lying dead on a driveway in the Petit area of Benoni on the East Rand.

A post mortem examination of the young animal revealed that she had died from blunt force trauma resulting in a partial cervical dislocation. The tiger cub’s physical condition was poor and she showed signs of dehydration and the development of underlying infectious conditions.

It is imperative that the NSPCA is able to trace the ownership and subsequent movement of this cub. It is tragic that such a young animal – not native to South Africa – could be found in an urban area in such a condition.

Whereas tigers are revered, endangered and protected world-wide, we find ourselves in a situation in South Africa whereby individuals who are unskilled in their care, are allowed to and are obtaining tigers and keeping them in unsuitable conditions as exotic “pets”.

This incident is a further example of why the SPCA as a national animal welfare movement opposes the keeping of exotic animals as pets. There are ethical as well as welfare issues. It is simply not possible to fulfil the needs of a wild animal in captivity as “welfare” goes beyond the basics of health and nutrition and includes the animal’s ability to express natural behaviour and to socialise with others of the same specie.

Wild animals belong in the wild.

Investigations into this latest incident continue and the NSPCA is working and liaising with other relevant authorities on the issue. Information may be forwarded (anonymously if preferred) to wild3@nspca.co.za or by fax to 011-907-4013.

For the sake of the animals, the NSPCA issues a plea not to support any trade in wild animals or exotic pets and to report anything untoward.

Platform games are games in which your character has to run and jump from platform to platform, jump over obstacles, collect objects, and try not to fall down. The genre first appeared in the 80s. The first platform games only had a static playing field, because technology was limited. Soon games with multiple static screens began appearing, where the player could move from one screen to the next. In the early 80s platform games with scrolling screens began to appear, although they only because very popular more toward the mid-80s. Those scrolling screen games more closely resemble the modern platform game. Think of the early Mario Bros. games for instance.

In the 90s a lot of gaming companies started investing in developing 3D platform games and 2D platformers fell into decline. These days, with the availability of many small, casual games online, the 2D platformer is making a huge comeback!

At Games.co.za you can play all kinds of exciting platform games for free! Do you ever miss those fun and engaging platform games like Commander Keen or Sonic the Hedgehog? Head on over and play some fun flash versions of these classic games now!

There are also lots of fun and original platform games developed by small gaming studios. Come on over and check out these quirky, fun and creative platform adventures and platform puzzle games. We’ve got more than 300 different platform games, and almost 8000 free games in total, so there’s plenty to try out and discover! Come on over and have fun!

Coming soon!!  St Patrick’s Day!

cheers!

March 17 will soon be here…  Seen any leprechauns lately?  Any small people wearing green hats?  Any four-leaf clovers or shamrocks?

Come on over to cards.co.za for lots of interesting info, recipes and of course lots and lots of free cards to send to all your family and friends!

Cards… we have all the holidays covered!

These creatures have done nothing wrong. They are producing more pigs for the industry only to be either slaughtered or impregnated and then crated to produce more piglets. The NSPCA believes that in the 21st Century, this practice has no moral or ethical values in today’s society.

I just want to be able to cuddle my baby

Consumers have the right to know what happens behind the scenes, before packaging, pricing and slaughtering of pigs. These sows are crated in a stall that permits no movement to her. All she can do is eat, drink and be pregnant.

An NSPCA initiative to highlight and bring it to the attention of the general consumer saw the launch of a campaign against this archaic practice. The industry itself has admitted that this practice is unnecessary; however due to costs can only make changes by 2020. The NSPCA rejected this justification as negotiations for a phase out period commenced in 2006. This resulted in a deadlock between the NSPCA and the South African Pork Producers Organization regarding the phase out date. It is time that consumers take charge.

Support is requested from consumers, retailers and all caring, compassionate people to help us exert sufficient pressure through public opinion to stop this practice. We simply ask that these animals have the freedom of movement within their environment and be able to socialise with other pigs.

Consumers can go to http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/sa-pork-industry-national-department-of-agriculture-retailers-stop-the-use-of-sow-crates-which-perpetuate-cruelty to send a letter to all the role players. It will take less than a minute, to bring change to the lives of millions of animals – now that’s power in your hands!

This campaign was launched on 18 February 2013 and has already gained momentum with the signatures of over 1000 people supporting it within four days.

To us it is not acceptable to continue the use of crates in South Africa beyond the previously set date of the end of 2016 by when they should have been phased out completely.

Please help these pigs!

February 14 is Valentine’s Day so save yourself time and money and get on over to valentine.co.za for lots and lots of great virtual cards to send – courtesy of cards.co.za.

she loves me... she loves me not...

Yes… unlike some card sites, all our cards are free to send – romantic, sad, funny… we have lots of options.

We have quotes, poetry, history, recipes and more.

We have cards for all the significant people in your life – from your wife, husband, lover, mistress and partner to your doctor, dentist and even your pets!

So if the only poetry you can think of is ‘roses are red and violets are blue’… this year ‘let Valentine.co.za do it all for you!!!’

Tower Defence games are great fun, and very popular casual games online. The idea behind these strategy games is simple yet engaging: Build towers, traps or barricades that stop an army of opponents from reaching the end of the level. The trick is placing these defensive buildings in the most strategic spots so that you can make use of them in the most efficient way.

The concept is open to a lot of different interpretations. There are army themed tower defence games, versions with feudal knights, zombies, goblins, ghosts and ghouls, snakes, rats, shoplifters, even mushrooms and carnivorous plants. You name it, there’s probably a tower defence game about it. With room for a little bit of everything as well as having some strategic elements thrown in, it’s no surprise these games have such a broad appeal.

Over at Games.co.za we’ve got almost 200 different tower defence games for you to try out. Try out some excellent games, such as the Strategy Defence series, Plants vs Zombies, and Monsters TD. There’s a huge selection of great games, so take a look and pick your favourite ones.

The holidays are over, and the new year has begun. So while life gets back to normal, here are some fun games to prevent boredom from setting in. How about training your eyes and detective skills with some great search and find games? In these games you will have to search the rooms or landscapes for hidden objects. You will need to find them all to advance.

There are many different kinds of search and find games. In some games you will be presented with a cluttered room and a list of objects. Sometimes the names of the objects will be written down, but sometimes there will be a list of riddles and hints instead, or a series of silhouettes. Can you find the matching items in the messy room?

Other games of the point and click variety require you to move about. Walk around in the town, the jungle, or even the north pole and many other exciting locations and search for useful objects. If you can figure out how to use them, you can make your way to the right location and unlock new places to search and new puzzles to solve.

Over at Games.co.za we have almost 200 exciting search and find games for you to play, good for hours of gaming fun! So come on over and check it out!

Can’t wait till Christmas? Whether it’s the presents you’re looking forward to, the Christmas dinner, the time off work and school, or just getting to spend some time with your family, get in the mood for Christmas with one of our fun X-mas themed online games.

We have over 50 different X-mas games to play at Games.co.za. Do you want to fly in Santa’s sled and help the man from the North Pole deliver presents to children all over the world? Or go on a present-collecting adventure with Santa? Maybe you prefer a snowball fight, a bit of snowboarding, or a sled race on the ice.

Whatever Christmas games you like best, there’s sure to be something for you in our extensive Christmas games overview. Come on over, check it out, and have a great merry holiday!