A joint investigation probing the motive behind a viral video showcasing a baboon being slaughtered is underway.
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA told People’s Post that the violent video that was forwarded to them on Monday 14 July.
“At this stage, we cannot confirm when or where the killing took place. We are still busy with an investigation. Various sources have indicated that it occurred in Ocean View; however, there is no evidence to substantiate this,” said SPCA Chief Inspector Jaco Pieterse.
He added that SPCA inspectors visited the area later in the day to investigate the matter. However, the visit was in vain.
JP Smith, Mayco member for safety and security, confirmed the receipt of the video and probe into the matter. “I can confirm that a few residents sent me the video and I immediately requested that law enforcement’s animal control unit (ACU) assist the SPCA in their investigation as the leading agency,” he said.
The ACU supports the SPCA to deal with animal-related contraventions.
Both the SPCA and the City could not specify how the baboon was killed.
“Currently, we do not have any leads. We are offering a R5 000 reward for any credible information that leads to the arrest and successful prosecution of the perpetrators,” added Pieterse.
He described the incident as “the first of this nature in Cape Town”.
“No animal deserves to die in this manner. We will ensure that justice is served,” he vowed.
Cape Peninsula Civil Conservation (CPCC) hopes the SPCA and the City can swiftly apprehend the culprits.
“We applaud the SPCA for taking this on and wish that they be successful in prosecuting those involved in this brutal killing. We urge anybody with information to come forward. With the baboon shooting on Sunday 13 April in Simon’s Town, it was extremely disappointing that Cape Nature failed to get a necropsy report which undercut attempts to investigate and prosecute.
This failure gave a message to the public that there are no legal consequences for killing a baboon. Just because there is no video of the Simon’s Town shootings does not mean that the perpetrator could not be identified and clearly linked to the shooting once the projectile is recovered,” said CPCC spokesperson Lynda Silk.
You must be logged in to post a comment.