Two people will face charges of cruelty to animals on Monday after being caught with 35 skinned donkey carcasses near Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal.
Morena Kimanu Dlomo and Lati Makatso were arrested after the donkeys were found in a kraal 8km from the border between KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho.
It is alleged that more than 100 donkeys have disappeared in the nearby communities and are suspected to have been stolen for slaughtering.
There has been a sudden rise of hunting and slaughtering of donkeys for their skins which are being used for medicinal markets in some parts of the world.
The two suspects‚ who were arrested last weekend‚ will appear in the Sani Magistrates Court.
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KwaZulu-Natal agriculture and rural development MEC Themba Mthembu said he was appalled by the gruesome cruelty to animals.
“As government we have an inescapable responsibility to protect our animals whether it’s rhinos against poaching and donkeys against their skin hunt by people who are so intent to enrich themselves through illegal and cruel means‚” he said.
Mthembu said he had directed his office to show a keen interest in the case by working with all interested players for the welfare of animals in the province.
“The department will put measures in place to protect our animals from any form of poaching… by forming partnerships with the communities that owned these animals‚” said Mthembu.
– TMG Digital/TimesLIVE
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