Giyani man replaces 1 of 3 hacked donkeys

THE man who, in a fit of rage, slashed three donkeys’ back legs, resulting in them having to be euthanased has managed to replace one of them.

Sidwell Baloyi (32) from Mavalani village in Giyani said he earned around R600 a month on piece jobs. He said he attacked the donkeys after he found them in his vegetable garden eating everything.

The owner of the donkeys, Joel Malatjie opted not to have him arrested, saying no one would benefit from this, and he rather wanted Baloyi to replace his animals. He depended on the donkeys for his livelihood, he said.

Baloyi was ordered by the Giyani magistrate’s court to replace the donkeys within two days.

However, Malatjie said he did not mind waiting longer, as long as they were replaced. With the cost of one donkey being around R1 500, it could take Baloyi a few months to raise the funds. Baloyi said he was fortunate that his brother had loaned him some money.

He promised to replace the second donkey by February 15.

“It would take too long for me to generate the money I need to buy the donkeys by myself, so my brother offered to buy them for me, and I will pay him back on affordable terms,” he said.