Cape Town - A weary pony found struggling along Voortrekker Road in Kensington, under the weight of a cart loaded with a broken vehicle and four people riding inside the vehicle, has been taken into the care of the Cape of Good Hope (CoGH) SPCA.
Charges of animal cruelty have since been laid against the four occupants and, if found guilty, could face fines of up to R40 000 or 12 months in prison, along with a criminal record.
“The cart was pushing against the pony’s hindquarters as she struggled with every step,” said the animal welfare organisation said.
“The small, weary pony was struggling under the weight of an absurdly heavy load—a cart loaded with a broken vehicle (without an engine) and four passengers riding inside the vehicle —far beyond the pony’s capacity.”
CoGH SPCA inspector Ayanda Ngcofe witnessed the scene while driving down the road.
“She signalled the cart to pull over and insisted that the pony be detached from the cart for a thorough inspection.
“It was immediately clear that the pony was lame and in distress. Two of the men riding in the cart fled, pushing the vehicle down the road.
“Fortunately, law enforcement officers quickly apprehended them, and the cart, along with its weighty load, was confiscated as evidence for an ongoing criminal case.
“The pony is now in the safe hands of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA Horse Care Unit.”
The cart and vehicle weighed 990kg, without the four occupants, which was almost triple the pony’s weight of just 360kg.
“We also discovered that the pony’s owner rents out several horses for working purposes, raising serious concerns about the ongoing exploitation of these animals. We will not stop fighting for the voiceless animals who endure this kind of suffering,” the CoGH SPCA said.
Kensington ward councillor, Cheslyn Steenberg, said he condemned the incident and commended the SPCA for its swift response.
“I hope that justice will be served in this case. It is a daily occurrence that people in other communities collect scrap in Kensington and cart it away.
“I call on the City to have its enforcement arm related to animals more visible and accessible to the public.
“Animal organisations need to be more firm and stricter because we need to treat our animals with respect,” Steenberg said.
To report animal cruelty, visit capespca.co.za
marsha.dean@inl.co.za
Cape Argus