North West man arrested after animal cruelty video

Members of the public are urged not to share content depicting animal abuse following the arrest of a man who recorded a live rat trapped in a cage while boiling water is poured over the animal, reports the Bloemfontein Courant.

The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) said the circulation of the distressing video can further normalise and amplify harm.

“Instead, such material should be reported directly to the relevant social media platform and to the NSPCA to allow for prompt investigation and intervention,” said the NSPCA.

According to communications lead Samanta Stelli, the individual filming the incident can be heard laughing and mocking the animal’s suffering, while the animal frantically tries to escape.

“This was a deliberate act of cruelty carried out for entertainment to be shared online, and it is completely unacceptable,” she added.

In response to this, inspectors from the NSPCA’s special projects unit immediately initiated an investigation and were able to trace the individual to a town just outside Klerksdorp in the North West Province.

“The NSPCA emphasises that it exists to protect all animals, regardless of their size or species, and will take decisive action whenever cruelty is reported. The NSPCA continues to call on the public to report suspected cruelty and to support its work in enforcing animal protection legislation across South Africa,” said Stelli.

The man was arrested and charged with animal cruelty in terms of the Animals Protection Act, and has been released on bail.