Police from Kagiso, Krugersdorp and Randfontein as well as members of National Crime Assist (NCA) among others escorted RandWest SPCA inspector Rene van Straten to a home in Mohlakeng to remove eight maltreated dogs.
It is the same house where she was assaulted, threatened with a knife and spear and humiliated early in November.
According to Van Straten, they went back to the property on Thursday, November 24 to confiscate the animals that previously couldn’t be taken (on 3 November), although she had a court order to remove the animals from the property. This time around, the accused and owner of the animals didn’t cause any trouble.
“I went back there together with members of the K9 Search and Rescue Unit, the Kagiso, Krugersdorp and Randfontein police and NCA as well as inspectors from the Sandton and Randburg SPCA. Most of the animals were unfortunately already hidden and we could only remove eight dogs in total – four of which were pit bulls. One Pit bull in particular was emaciated, chained and sick.”
Rene added the animals were kept in unhygienic conditions, malnourished and didn’t receive the necessary medical treatment. Some were also tied to something or in small cages.
She added, “We will be opening a case of animal cruelty against the owner as well”.
It was reported on the front page of the 2 December issue of the Herald how Van Straten’s visit to remove animals from a property turned into a life-threatening situation after she was assaulted by the owner. The 24-year-old said the incident took place in Mohlakeng and explained they had a court order to remove animals from this individual as they have been conducting continuous inspections at this individual’s property and found that he has not been taking proper care of his animals.
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RandWest SPCA inspector assaulted while cops allegedly stand and watch
A visit to remove animals from a property turned into a life-threatening situation for a RandWest SPCA inspector after she was assaulted by the owner. To make matters worse, the inspector claimed that two police officers allegedly just stood by and watched as it happened. The 24-year-old RandWest SPCA inspector Rene van Straten said the incident took place on Thursday, 3 November in Mohlakeng.
She explained they had a court order to remove animals from this individual as they have been conducting continuous inspections at this individual’s property and found that he has not been taking proper care of his animals.
“We arrived at the property and found that there were more animals than what there was during our last inspection and we have our suspicions that the owner is moving animals around for illegal purposes. The owner wasn’t present and we only found one of the residents on the property. The two police officers didn’t bother to accompany us into the property with the warrant, they stood outside of the yard. We entered the property, showed the resident on the property the warrant and explained what we are there to do.” She said that the warrant authorises them to enter the premises with or without the owner present. She claimed further that she and her SPCA assistant started loading the animals into the vehicle and as they were busy there was a crowd of people surrounding them to see what they are doing because of the resident shouting and swearing and trying to obstruct them from taking in the animals.
“The police didn’t intervene and then the owner appeared out of the crowd and immediately started to walk straight to me, pointing at me and swearing. The two police members were standing right next to me [keep in mind this is taking place in the street, not inside of the property], seeing the owner approaching me very aggressively and didn’t bother to stop him in any way.
“He then grabbed me by my the neck, pushed me to the ground and kicked me.”
She also claims that she managed to jump up to try and hide in the back of the SPCA vehicle. However, he allegedly continued to hit and kick her and pushed her into the bakkie until members of the public managed to stop him.
“He entered his house, came out with a knife and spear and kept on threatening that he is going to kill me. Still the police had taken no steps, and only then called for back-up. Because of the crowd around us and the police vehicle behind mine I was unable to leave and went to sit inside the bakkie and waited for back-up and my other colleagues who’ve I’ve called to arrive. My field officer Junior Cuna arrived and managed to calm the owner down. A volunteer of ours, Beyers van Staden, arrived shortly after and immediately rushed me to hospital.”
Fortunately, after a complete health check with X-rays, Rene sustained no internal injuries, only extreme bruising and swelling. “I’m so used to people acting aggressively towards me in situations like this. This was unfortunately not the first time. I’m furious that the police stood by and watched how, not only a woman, but a woman standing in the line of duty being assaulted in a public area, right after I asked them to please intervene and help us with the resident that was trying to obstruct us. Even after I saw that there were more animals on the property I asked them to request for back-up as we are going to take longer than expected. They didn’t bother to provide us with any assistance whatsoever, even after I warned them that we know situations like this escalates very quickly. And that is a shame.
“As for the assault case, I sat in the police’s service centre for over two hours waiting to be helped. Eventually, a captain came from the back and helped me, however, I was made as if the situation was not that bad, and attempted murder charge was changed to intimidation. I only received my case number over 80 hours later. Both the case against the owner and the complaint against the police officers are under investigation.”
She urged the community to stay away from illegal activities regarding animals and their welfare being compromised, she also urged the public to report activities like that to the RandWest SPCA and that they may report it anonymously.
The Herald can confirm that a case of assault is being investigated against the owner of the dog. According to West Rand District Police spokesperson Captain Solomon Sibiya, the Randfontein Police station commander, Brigadier Mashole Jacob Manamela, has given an instruction for the docket to be investigated.
“However, this case number is for assault against the owner of the dog who was refusing Rene to remove his dogs.”
Regarding the complaint against the cops who stood and watched, Captain Sibiya said, “Our two officers, however, couldn’t enter the yard as the dogs weren’t chained or prevented from attacking them.” Captain Sibiya added the station commander also wanted to go back to the house with the complainant, but Rene refused.
