Last week, Inspector Ayanda Ngcofe of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA witnessed a heart-wrenching scene while driving down Voortrekker Road in Kensington. A small, weary pony was struggling under the weight of an absurdly heavy load—a cart loaded with a broken vehicle (without an engine) and four passengers riding inside the vehicle —far beyond the pony’s capacity. The cart was pushing against the pony’s hindquarters as she struggled with every step. Without hesitation, Inspector Ngcofe took immediate action to stop the suffering.
She signalled the cart to pull over and insisted that the pony be detached from the cart for a thorough inspection. It was immediately clear that the pony was lame and in distress. Concerned for its welfare, Inspector Ngcofe contacted the office for a horsebox to transport the pony to the SPCA’s Horse Care Unit. Two of the men riding in the cart fled, pushing the vehicle down the road. Fortunately, Law Enforcement officers quickly apprehended them, and the cart, along with its weighty load, was confiscated as evidence for an ongoing criminal case.
Thanks to Inspector Ngcofe’s swift intervention, the pony is now in the safe hands of our Cape of Good Hope SPCA Horse Care Unit. An equine specialist veterinarian was called to the SPCA to examine the pony, and she confirmed that the pony had been subjected to extreme cruelty and was physically incapable of pulling such a burden. Shockingly, the cart and vehicle weighed a staggering 990 kilograms (without the four occupants) — almost triple the pony’s own weight of just 360 kilograms. Forcing the pony to pull such a load wasn’t just cruel; it was inhumane and illegal.
In terms of Section 2(1)(a) of the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962, overloading any animal is a criminal offence. Anyone found guilty of such cruelty could face fines of up to R40,000 or up to 12 months in prison, along with a criminal record.
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA has laid charges of animal cruelty against the four occupants of the cart. We also discovered that the pony’s owner rents out several horses for working purposes, raising serious concerns about the ongoing exploitation of these animals.
This is the third carthorse our team has confiscated in the last two months due to cruelty. The SPCA has approached the City of Cape Town, urging stricter enforcement of the Animal Keeping By-Law, which governs working animals within the city.
We will not stop fighting for the voiceless animals who endure this kind of suffering. Thanks to supporters like you, animals like this brave pony can be rescued, rehabilitated, and given a second chance at life.
