Rustenburg – A standard therapist and another individual were detained after they were discovered in ownership of snake skin, eagle plumes and chaining a vervet monkey to a pole.
North West cops representative, Colonel Adele Myburgh, said Tshidiso Pitso, 28, and Hlompho Mary Seoehla, 21, were detained on March 17 and appeared in the Lehurutshe Magistrate’s Court on March 20 for conflict of Section 88 of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, the Animal Protection Act and for contravening the Immigration Act.
“They were remanded in custody until their next court appearance on April 24,” she said.
They were detained after a multidisciplinary group including Lehurutshe Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit (STES) Unit, Crime Prevention, National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, (NSPCA) and the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) Unit acted on info that a standard therapist chained a monkey to a pole.
“The team finally arrested the duo for possession of a vervet monkey, eagle feathers and skins of an African rock python snake, without a permit. The monkey was taken to the State veterinarian for medical treatment,” she said.
In another different occurrence, Modisaotsile Thomas Senosi, 69, was detained on March 19 for contravening Section 72 of the Animal Protection Act.
“He was arrested after information was received that he built an electrical trap to scare away stray cattle, leading to electrocution of a cow. He was granted bail upon appearance before the Lehurutshe Magistrate’s Court on March 20. Senosi is expected to reappear before the same court on April 24,” she said.
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