A 41-year-old man was arrested for allegedly hacking two donkeys with a panga, injuring them on the legs and upper body.
Temba police spokesperson, Constable Herman Moremi said residents who witnessed the senseless act alerted the police.
The incident occurred on Monday morning at Maubane Section, near Temba.
“Police, accompanied by officials from the SPCA, immediately rushed to the cruel attacker’s home but he was not there. However, they were led to an address where they arrested him,” said Moremi.
The man allegedly attacked the donkeys after they had entered his yard and vandalised the plants.
The donkeys suffered horrific injuries in the attack.
Residents said they were shocked by the senseless violence.
“It was abhorrent that someone could do this to an innocent animal,” said one resident.
Moremi said they have arrested the man from Maubane, for inflicting deliberate injuries to the donkeys.
“We have arrested the offender. He is being kept in police custody pending a forensic examination. He is expected to appear in court soon,” said Moremi.
It is believed the not-so-remorseful man confessed to police as well as the Tshwane SPCA personnel that he had hacked the donkeys because they often made a noise in his yard during the night.
The donkeys’ owner, Johannes Ngobeni (23) said: “I am heartbroken because the donkeys are my source of income. I use them to deliver sand to customers. Now I am only left with two donkeys which cannot pull the cart alone. The coming months will be months of starving for my family of seven members, who relied on the money generated by the four donkeys.”
SPCA inspector Mishack Matlou confirmed a case of cruelty to animals has been opened.
“Upon our arrival at the scene, the donkeys were unable to get up and walk after they were hacked. Their back leg muscles were cut off with a panga. The perpetrator was not at home, but his cooperative mother gave directions to where her son went. We found him busy helping to slaughter a cow for a wedding ceremony when we arrested him,” said Matlou.
The SPCA took the donkeys in their care for medical treatment.
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