Animal cruelty culture prevails
A horrific video of a man assaulting a goat recently went viral, creating controversy on how people treat animals.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/2014/11/goat6.jpg)
MBOMBELA – A horrific video of a man assaulting a goat recently went viral, creating controversy on how people treat animals.
The footage of the suspect beating the goat circulated on social-media networks and eventually landed in the hands of the police and South African Animal Rescue and Advisory Centre (Saarac).
The video, which shows the man beating up the animal while other people are laughing, instigated Saarac to launch a manhunt.
The perpetrator was eventually apprehended, appeared in court and was released on warning. He is expected to appear again in court on November 10. Investigations still continue.
Mpumalanga News tried to get to the bottom of this by speaking to several people, black and white, in a bid to establish whether they treated animals with respect. While a large number of black people stated that they did not really care about animals, others applauded the law for institutionalising animal rights.
“I personally do not blame the guy for beating up the goat. By the look of things, the animal caused damage and deserved to be beaten up. It is unfortunate that the goat died, but who cares, it’s just an animal,” said Thomas Nkwinika.
“I really do not care what happens to animals. I have dogs and they are there to protect me, but if anything happens to them, they are just animals. I do not take them to the hospital – that’s what white people do,” added Busani Mkhonto.
But for other blacks, animals play an important role in the balance of the ecosystem. “What would we do without animals? Some are used for their meat, some to protect us and some to strike the balance that is needed in life,” commented Ray Msibi of White River.
Meanwhile, a large number of white people were outraged when they saw the footage and are of the opinion that animals should be respected and looked after just like humans. “I live with five cats and six dogs and I love them as if they were my children.
My own kids have moved out and my pets are all I have to keep me company. I look after them and make sure that they are healthy.
I would not beat up an animal, even if it had done serious damage,” said Willeminah Jooste of White River. “I could not finish watching that video of a man who beat up and killed a goat.
It was so traumatising. Who in their right state of mind could do that?” said an angry Jan van Tonder of Nelspruit.
See video of the man assaulting the goat here
Ridiculous article that is perpetuating racial divides.