A Pretoria business owner is at the centre of outrage after he allegedly shot and killed feral cats with a shotgun on a property of a lodge in Silver Lakes in front of eyewitnesses, before allegedly threatening people who tried to stop him.

Juanita Cronje, who lives on the lodge property in Silver Lakes, said she and her fiancé moved there about four years ago. About a year later, she noticed people dumping tame cats in the area, and the animals began living on the lodge’s premises.

“I am an animal lover and could not stand the thought of these cats being dumped and left to fend for themselves, so I made sure to feed them,” she said.

Cronje said she had turned to social media for assistance as the number of cats continued to grow. This was not successful.

Her fiancé, Tobie Mynaardt, works for the lodge owner, Mike von Backström.

According to Cronje, Von Backström had repeatedly threatened to shoot and kill the cats and had allegedly even put out poison for them. She alleged that matters escalated on Thursday when Von Backström arrived on the property and started shooting at the cats with a shotgun.

“I was busy in the bathroom when I heard the first shot. I tried to look out the window, but I could not see what was going on, so I ran outside and saw Mike with the shotgun. A black cat started running in my direction, and I shouted at Mike to stop shooting. He screamed and said that if I did not get out of the way, he would shoot me as well. He then shot the black cat as it was walking towards me. I was in complete shock, and he was sitting in his bakkie with his shotgun, laughing like a crazy person,” she said.

Cronje claimed that he then left, but promised to return to shoot the rest of the cats. She immediately phoned Mynaardt, who rushed home. Cronje said she later passed out from the shock.

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Mynaardt said he confronted Von Backström about the shooting and the alleged threats, but was met with hostility.

“He shouted at me, fired me, and told us we had 24 hours to vacate the property,” Mynaardt said.

He added that shortly after leaving Von Backström’s office, the electricity supply to their unit was disconnected. The couple said they have been without power since Friday.

Meanwhile, Cronje’s son Danie, took to social media to report the shooting. The post quickly gained traction, prompting urgent efforts to safely remove the remaining cats from the property.

Nine cats were caught on Monday, while animal welfare organisations continue efforts to catch the remaining animals. Among those still at risk are seven kittens believed to be under eight weeks old.

Leoni Bateman from Four Paws and a Beating Heart, along with a team from the Swawel Vet Animal Hospital, including Dr Janus Wagner, captured the cats.

A case has been opened, and the incident has sparked fury across Pretoria, with private investigator Mike Bolhuis also becoming involved.

However, Von Backström has rejected the portrayal of him as a “monster” and said the feral cat problem on his property in Silverlakes has become an increasing health and safety concern over the past three to four years.

He said he was pushed to his limits last week after, according to him, repeated requests to the couple, Cronje and Mynaardt, living on his premises, to address the growing number of cats were ignored.

Von Backström said that since the beginning of the year, he had been trying to manage the issue by catching the cats and surrendering them to the Tshwane SPCA.

According to him, boxes full of cats have already been handed over. Tshwane SPCA investigator Andrew Kekana confirmed that 16 cats had been surrendered since February.

“I am now being made out to be this monster, and I am not,” Von Backström said.

“My family, including my grandchildren, have been receiving threats online, and our business has been badly affected by cancellations and negative reviews. No one seems to care to get our side of the story.”

He added that these cats have been destructive on their property, killing wildlife.

“We love animals; we have two adopted dogs from the SPCA who sleep in our bed and are very much loved.”

Von Backström further alleged that the couple were living in a one-bedroom apartment with their 24-year-old son, other family members and 18 cats.

He claimed the cats had not been sterilised and that nothing had been done to control their breeding.

“These poor cats are mostly underfed and in bad shape. How can you claim to be acting in their best interest if you are not making a plan for sterilisation?” he said.

Kekana confirmed to Rekord that most of the cats surrendered since February were in good condition.

He furthermore added that the matter is under investigation. Bolhuis also confirmed the case and the investigation.

*Please note the article has been amended.

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