KZN cop in court over shooting of 'friendly' ginger cat at Durban airport

05 December 2019 - 16:39 By Tania Broughton
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A policeman stationed at King Shaka International Airport appeared in the Verulam Magistrate's Court on Wednesday in connection with the shooting of a cat.
A policeman stationed at King Shaka International Airport appeared in the Verulam Magistrate's Court on Wednesday in connection with the shooting of a cat.
Image: Elvis Ntombela

A policeman stationed at King Shaka International Airport has appeared in court on charges relating to the fatal shooting of a much-loved cat outside the airport's domestic terminal almost a year ago.

Leonard Buthelezi, 43, made a brief appearance in the Verulam magistrate’s court on Wednesday on three charges: discharging his firearm in a public place, cruelty to animals and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

He will appear in court again in January next year when he is expected to have his attorney present.

TimesLIVE reported in January that the ginger cat, called Boy, who had lived at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport with his brother for more than five years, had been shot dead, allegedly by an on-duty police officer in the early hours of New Year's Eve, December 31 2018.

The shooting was confirmed by the police, who said the incident and the policeman were under investigation.

A witness to the alleged shooting, cab driver Teddy Uganarian, said he was one of many people who fed the two neutered males twice a day.

On the day, the cats had emerged from the bush and he had fed them. The shooting took place in front of him, he alleged.

Boy’s brother, Snowy, was taken to Nine Lives Cat Sanctuary in Waterfall “for his own safety”.

He is still living there, according to founder Andre Stokes.

Stokes said he heard of the incident via his network.

“Everyone knew these cats. They had been neutered several years ago by a vet in Ballito. I would see them if I had an early flight to catch. They were calm and friendly. You could pick them up.”

Stokes said he had arranged for Snowy to go to the sanctuary to protect him from harm.


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