WATCH | SPCA rescues donkey after abuse video sparks investigation
The donkey’s owner subsequently agreed to surrender the animal, which was removed and taken to the Kimberley SPCA for safe care and recovery.
The Kimberley SPCA has intervened after a disturbing video showing men slashing at a donkey while someone can be heard laughing in the background was shared with an inspector, prompting urgent action.
Inspector Kabelo Ditlhanke from the National Council of SPCAs’ Donkey Upliftment and Outreach Unit travelled to Kuruman in June after receiving the footage.
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On arrival, Ditlhanke found one surviving donkey, a jenny, standing near where her companion had reportedly been slaughtered for meat.
The donkey’s owner subsequently agreed to surrender the animal, which was removed and taken to the Kimberley SPCA for safe care and recovery.
The NSPCA said the donkey has since been given a new name, Lily, symbolising a fresh start after what rescuers described as a traumatic experience.
It said that charges are being laid against those involved in killing Lily’s companion, under the Animals Protection Act.
The NSPCA’s Donkey Upliftment and Outreach Unit, which frequently responds to cases involving working donkeys, focuses on improving welfare through education, humane harnessing initiatives and outreach programmes aimed at reducing injury and neglect.
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Donkeys remain widely used across South Africa for transport and labour, particularly in rural communities, where the NSPCA said improper harnessing and handling often lead to preventable suffering.
The unit has been running workshops and educational visits aimed at improving treatment and care standards.
The latest intervention comes amid a broader pattern of animal cruelty cases that have drawn public attention, including the recent rescue of a pig named Nunu in Durban, who survived a violent attack and is now recovering under the care of Saving Animals Through Fostering and Education (SAFE).
Animal welfare groups continue to urge the public to report suspected cruelty cases to their nearest SPCA, stressing that early reporting is critical to preventing further suffering.
