“All it takes for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing – but in this case a lot of good people chose to do something.”
These were the words of magistrate Juan Voogt before he sentenced four men found guilty of participating in the criminal activity of organised dog fighting to two years of direct imprisonment.
The men were Mpumelelo Dubula, Tsetsewa Mahlaba, Bongani Floyd Mbonani and Thokozani Ndabele.
They and others were arrested in a raid at an address in Tsakane in November 2013.
Read: Dog fighting syndicate busted
Members of the public and inspectors from both the NSPCA and local SPCAs listened attentively as state prosecutor Bradley Dias explained to the court how, globally, dog fighting engenders outrage and revulsion and that the sentence to be handed down to the convicted should send a message that this crime is serious, will not be tolerated and will be dealt with harshly.
He added that SPCA inspectors are the guardians and protectors of these animals and were also victims that suffered from the trauma of having to deal with this horrendous crime.
A further 10 men found guilty of being spectators at this dog fight were sentenced to two years under strict house arrest.
They are Benedict Ngcobo, Gift Nkabinde, Sabelo Mtshali, Thabiso Mahlangu, Bongani Skakane, Lehlohonolo Nomadola ,Thulane Dhlosi, Mxolisi Khumalo, Nkosana Masilela and Sipho Masombuka.
All the convicted men were found unfit to possess firearms and found unfit to own dogs, and, if found in possession of a dog, would be liable to 12 months direct imprisonment.
Further to the life changing conditions of house arrest, the 10 spectators were also sentenced to 360 hours of community service and a total of R50 000 to be paid to the NSPCA.
During the course of this trial one of the accused chose to plead guilty and was sentenced to R20 000 or 20 months imprisonment which was suspended for five years on condition that he did not reoffend.
Another two men are still to be sentenced.
The Special Investigations Unit of the National Council of SPCAs has been relentless in the pursuit of justice for the 14 animal victims of this 2013 Tsakane dog fighting raid, and vows to be just as unrelenting in pursuing justice for over 200 dogs in the 58 dog fighting cases that have followed.
Voogt went on to say that we as the human race have been entrusted to ensure that no harm will come to animals, a responsibility that we should exercise with humaneness and dignity.
He concluded with a warning that dog fighting tears at the moral fibre of society, exhibiting a level of violence that is abhorrent and reprehensible and anyone who wants to trivialise the offence of dog fighting is losing touch with reality.
Also read: Unspeakable cruelty – why we must, and how we can, stop dog fighting
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