Three people accused of assaulting and setting alight five cats in Mgababa Section, Putfontein, appeared in the Daveyton Magistrate’s Court on December 9, where their bail application was postponed.

The two women and one man face charges of animal cruelty after they allegedly attacked the cats on November 3. They allegedly accused the owner, 65-year-old Nomsa Maseko, of using the animals for witchcraft.

Maseko, who kept eight cats she regarded as her “children,” has been left homeless after her shack was vandalised by an angry mob during the incident.

She is currently being housed by Good Samaritan Nonhlanhla Bhila, who took her in after the attack.

A video seen by the Benoni City Times, and now part of the police investigation, shows Maseko carrying the cats outside moments before the assault.

In the footage, a young woman is seen holding a cat by its tail while an elderly man strikes it with a spade. Maseko’s belongings are also scattered outside her home.

Putfontein police arrested the three suspects on December 1. They appeared in court on December 3, and the matter was postponed to December 9 for a possible bail application.

However, during proceedings on December 9, the court heard that the home addresses of two of the accused, identified as Dudu Nkoyena and Cleopatra Mlambo, could not be verified. The State confirmed that the investigating officer verified the address of the third accused, Moses Skosana.

The magistrate postponed the case to December 18 to allow for address verification and the commencement of the bail application.
Numerous community members from the Mgababa Section filled the public gallery in support of the accused.

Also Read: Mob kills woman’s cats over witchcraft claims

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