Today, AfriForum wrote a letter to the municipal manager of the Makhado Municipality demanding the release of the donkeys the municipality have put up for adoption.
According to Wally Schultz, chairperson of AfriForum Louis Trichardt (Makhado), AfriForum is considering pressing charges of animal cruelty. According to the Animals Protection Act it is an offence to unnecessarily starve, underfeed or deny water or food to any animal.
The community of Makhado brought a report of animal cruelty to the attention of AfriForum. ‘The community clearly indicated that they are willing to take ownership of the animals to prevent the municipality from killing them. They were denied the opportunity to do so and there are allegations that two animals have already died,’ Schultz said.
The Act states: ‘Whenever an animal that was taken into the custody of the society has not been claimed within seven days of the advertisement or notice to the owner, the society shall deal with the animal in its discretion: Provided that the society may destroy the animal, irrespective of the condition of the animal, if the animal cannot be disposed of otherwise’.
‘It is clear that members of the community are willing to take custody of the animals and that destroying the animals is not an option,’ Schultz added.
AfriForum has given the municipality 48 hours to address the issue and consider adoption of these animals by members of the community.
