Magistrate van Niekerk sent out a strong message on 19 February, when not only two dog-fighters, but also a spectator, were sentenced to direct imprisonment.
During his judgment, Van Niekerk made it clear that violent animal abuse will not be tolerated by the courts. Before sentencing the three accused men –Retshidisitswe Steve Mohoyo (the spectator), Teboho Godfrey Tabethe and Bongani Cullen Radebe, all of whom pleaded guilty in the face of overwhelming evidence against them – he carefully explained that it fell to the courts to ensure that not only were all the vulnerable in a community protected, but that violence in all its forms was punished.
Also Read:
https://www.citizen.co.za/roodepoort-record/2016/08/30/graphic-content-severely-injured-dogs-rescued-at-illegal-dog-fighting-gathering/
Mohoyo received a sentence of 10 months’ direct imprisonment, plus an additional period of suspended imprisonment that comes into effect if he is caught offending again. Tabethe and Radebe were each sentenced to 32 months’ imprisonment and a further period of suspended imprisonment.
In a statement released by the National Society for the Prevention of Animal Cruelty (NSPCA), the organisation said that during aggravation of sentence, Senior Inspector Wendy Wilson, of the NSPCA’s Special Investigations Unit, had explained in detail the devastating effect that this violent animal abuse has on a community. She also related the gruesome details of how two of the accused, after making their dogs engage in bloody battle, dragged the bleeding, dehydrated animals, both of which were grievously injured and suffering from broken bones, a distance of nearly 2km through the veld in an attempt to evade the pursuing law enforcement officers.
It is the first time that a spectator has been sentenced to direct imprisonment.
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