Warning: Content and photos not for sensitive readers.

Nomsa Maseko (65) of the Mgababa Section in Putfontein, Ekurhuleni, is struggling to come to terms with the deaths of her five cats after an angry mob allegedly assaulted and set them alight, accusing her of using them for witchcraft.

Benoni City Times reports that the incident happened early on November 3.

A video seen by the Benoni City Times, now in the possession of the police as part of the investigation, shows Maseko carrying the cats outside.

A young woman is then seen holding one of the cats by its tail before it is beaten with a spade by an elderly man and later set alight. The woman’s belongings are also seen outside.

The Benoni City Times visited the distraught woman on November 26. She is currently staying with Nonhlanhla Bhila, a Good Samaritan who took her in after her shack was vandalised, leaving her homeless and with nothing.

Maseko said she had eight cats, which she regarded as her children.

She explained that on the morning of the attack, she was preparing to go and collect recyclables when she heard a whistle outside her shack. When she looked out, she saw a group of people standing at her gate.

“They demanded to know where the cats were and told me to take them out and put them into a sack. They kept shouting at me to hurry,” she said.

She explained that some of the cats managed to hide, but several were captured and put into a sack, which was then tied closed.

“They asked why I had so many cats. I told them I loved cats and that one had given birth to the others. The mother cat later died after being poisoned, and since then, I kept the kittens inside because cats get killed when they roam,” she said.

Maseko said she was forced to sit next to the sack and told to choose between her life and the lives of her cats.

“I begged them and said I would take the cats to The Animal Guardian’s (TAG) if the cats were a problem. Instead, they became more angry and set the sack alight,” she said.

She added that as the fire spread, some of the cats managed to escape, and she was ordered to catch them. During the chaos, she was allegedly assaulted.

“I was saved by a young man, who questioned the crowd about what they were doing. One of the cats later died from the injuries or smoke after I found it hiding in the yard with blood coming out of its mouth,” she said.

Maseko is now left with only two surviving cats, which she says are traumatised after witnessing the ordeal. She thanked the TAG for donating cat food and other assistance.

“They have always helped me with food and essentials for the cats,” she said.

Originally from Ophongolo in KZN, Maseko moved to Gauteng alone in 2010. She does not have an identity document and says the trauma continues to haunt her.

“I cannot sleep at night. I keep seeing their faces and hearing their cries. All I want is justice so that what happened to me and my cats never happens to anyone else,” she said.

Putfontein SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Raider Ubisi confirmed that a case of animal cruelty was opened.

Benoni SPCA manager Thomas Mohlake condemned the incident: “I urge communities to coexist with animals and report any concerns to the SPCA instead of taking the law into their own hands. The horrific video showing how those cats were burnt is unacceptable. This tragedy could have been avoided if the matter was reported to the Benoni SPCA,” he said.

The founder of the TAG, Annie Jungmann, also condemned the attack.

“That woman loves her cats. We have known her for 11 years, and she would come to us whenever she needed food or help. We thank the community members who donated food and clothing so that we can support Nomsa and ensure that the two remaining cats are cared for,” she said.

Jungmann added that the surviving cats have since been sterilised. The Benoni City Times has contacted the Department of Social Development to explore possible social assistance for Maseko.

Anyone wishing to assist Maseko with food or essential needs can contact Nonhlanhla Bhila on 078 978 2274.

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