A video of a cat being abused was circulated widely on social media, which resulted in the arrest of the suspect by Inspectors of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA and officers of the City of Cape Town Law Enforcement.
Not for sensitive viewers
With limited information at hand, the Cape of Good Hope SPCA launched a manhunt to trace the suspect and ensure justice is served.
Both the abuser and the person recording the video are heard laughing with amusement at the terrifying incident that has just occurred, with the abuser concluding, “nou is hy ook op.”
The video was screen recorded and shared with the SPCA with a plea to bring justice for the cat.
The young man and his accomplice (18), who filmed the abuse, were taken into custody and charged with animal cruelty in terms of the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962.
Cape of Good Hope SPCA Chief Inspector Jaco Pieterse said, “I am very pleased with the persistence of our team in finding the culprits. We are extremely grateful to the public for their assistance in providing information that led to this arrest. We are also very grateful for the swift support we received from the City of Cape Town. We will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served.”
Alderman JP Smith, Mayco member for Safety & Security for the City of Cape Town said, “having to watch the video that was circulated was horrifying, making it hard to believe that such a cruel act could be induced upon a helpless, innocent animal. It is a growing concern how the continuous exposure to violence within society desensitizes our youth, whereby in turn it drives them to inflict pain and suffering onto others. In this same manner, organized gangs introduce the cruel sport of dog-fighting to our youth, in order to create a feeling of superiority amongst those who are able to cause the most injury and harm.
It’s a vicious cycle that requires the whole of society to bring about needed change. It is with our utmost gratitude that the SPCA was able to react so quickly in the pursuit of justice. We will continue providing support where needed and recognize their value in animal welfare.“
Court Process

“Kittie” – Little Cat Who Survived
The cat, a young male (under 1-year-old) survived the incident and was taken into the care of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA where he is receiving a full medical examination and care.
The owners of the cat named “Kittie” were only made aware of the incident when the video was being circulated on social media. Kittie will remain in our care until the case is concluded.
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Litigation is costly, and the SPCA receives no funding from the government. We rely solely on donations from the public in order to prosecute matters like this.
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Your continued dedication, ongoing support, and passion for protecting the lives of animals is what makes us successful. Thank you for everything you do to help make this a better world for animals.
Thank you to those who assisted with bringing information to the SPCA that led to the arrest of the perpetrators of this horrific abuse.
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After Trauma… a Happy Tail
Kia (originally “Kitty”) was rescued by the SPCA after investigating a terrible trauma in a viral video posted to social media of him being thrown over a roof. This gorgeous, affectionate boy has made a full recovery and found the new safe home he deserves with an adoring cat-mommy.