Pic of the dragging victim (Click on NSFW image)
The dragging death of a dog that sparked racial tensions in South Africa due to “cultural misunderstandings” has been resolved with the man pleading guilty in court to a reduced sentence.
38-year old teacher Andile Jezile was arrested and charged with 7 counts of animal cruelty in February for allegedly dragging a dog behind his car and then throwing the nearly-dead animal into the bushes. A vet later put the dog to sleep due to its severe injuries.
Jezile’s arrested was condemned by many Black South Africans, who say he had every right to “punish” the dog because it allegedly bit the man’s child. The Congress of Traditional Leaders (Contralesa) Chairman, Chief Mwelo Nokonyane, lambasted the SPCA for charging Jezile adding that that his arrest demonstrated once more that the South African Constitution is Eurocentric and entrenches values “that our former colonial oppressors imposed contrary to our own values and are only supported by the white minority.”
“Firstly, the dog was punished because it had bitten a child but the SPCA does not say a word. Instead they are taking people to court for a dog,” Nonkonyane said, adding that if the dog had rabies, the child’s life would have been at risk. “There are many people who were bitten by dogs over the years who are still suffering from trauma up until now” said Nonkonyane.
Nonkonyane added that this is very annoying and that the people, such as the SPCA, who are promoting the dog’s case, are in the minority. “It is high time that our people stood up and supported the teacher” he said.
Jezile was sentenced to 18 months in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty to dragging the god to death. Half of the sentence was suspended. Jezile also had the option of paying a R3,000 (US $388) fine.
“We are not too happy. He didn’t get much,” said Doug Wolhuter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). Wolhunter wanted a 3-year maximum sentence and no omission of guilt fine.
It is believed the racial tension caused by the case caused Jezile to revieve a lower sentencing.
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Let me add one more thing to the above post…. Our community would have been outraged had it happen to ANY baboon, not just Eric!!!
These people have absolutely no empathy towards other creatures lives. Here is a similar story that really struck me because I live about 3km from where it took place.
Basically, a few coloured or black (article doesn’t say race, but given that they are from Ocean View, which is 100pc coloured and black it’s a safe bet to assume) guys were walking their pitbulls on the main road which is next to a nature reserve. A lone baboon (real one) was on the side of the road and they took their dogs off their leashes and urged them to attack the baboon. they attacked and nearly killed the baboon. They did this infront of a crowd of onlookers (mostly white). Because they did it infront of others it only shows that they don’t think what they did was wrong. Fortunately, the white crowd didn’t respond the way the coloured/black men expected and stepped it to put a stop to it.
Our community is outraged because the baboon they set their dogs on is one of the most popular ones around. He even has a name – Eric
Link to article http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=14&art_id=vn20090722113545188C372775
You can take the savage out the wild, but you can’t take the wild out the savage…