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A Vervet monkey was burnt to death in Kagiso informal settlement, west of Joburg, after residents believed it was linked to witchcraft, The Star newspaper reported on Monday.
“In an incident described as 'barbaric' by the Community-led Animal Welfare (Claw), residents chanted 'kill that witch!',” The Star said.
It reported that the monkey wandered into the settlement last Monday, May 23, and was pelted with stones, shot at by police, and then burnt to death.
The monkey fled the mob and temporarily found shelter in a tree, but was pulled out, put in a bucket and doused in petrol.
“Someone struck a match. (The monkey) got out of the bucket and dropped down dead. They continued throwing stones at it,” Kagiso resident, Tebogo Moswetsi was reported as saying.
Moswetsi was woken up by a friends on Monday morning and told about the monkey, they said it was going around Kagiso “talking to people”.
He said he joined in the case as he was curious. He was the resident that climbed the tree and brought the monkey down.
“I feel guilty, I shouldn't have taken it down from that tree. I dropped it down after someone poured petrol on it. I had no choice,” Moswetsi said.
Claw manager, Cora Bailey, arrived at the scene and said she was devastated.
“I felt devastated. You could barely tell it had been a living creature. There were very small children who looked very confused and frightened.”
Bailey explained animals fell victim to superstition, especially because they did not understand that such animals wander into townships because their natural habitat was destroyed or it was separated from its troop.
“It was a quest to find a family,” she said.
Johannes Bapela, also a Kagiso resident, called Bailey after calls to police failed to deliver results, he told The Star.
“They beat it up, then set it alight. I couldn't sleep that night because it was too traumatic,” he said.
He called the claims of witchcraft “totally baseless” and added it was more mob mentality than anything else.
Warrant Officer Solomon Sibiya could not confirm that police shot at the animal, the newspaper reported.
“I enquired, but I don't think it's something that was reported,” Sibiya was quoted as saying. – Sapa
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Shirak, wrote
I wonder if the monkey was telepathic or a pet of someone. My dog is quite capable of understanding words and can respond in requested amount of syllables. Perhaps this monkey had evolved higher intelligence. Sigh now we will never know because fear has won again.
Katie Timmins, wrote
I just hope that all those who have written here about animal killers are not hypercrits themselves and are therefore at least vegetarian! The people who did this did so out of fear. It is not an excuse, but we all do stupid things out of fear. It is the mundane things in life that we don't realise we're participating in (has anyone seen what goes on inside a slaughterhouse recently) which get to me.
Anonymous, wrote
Sick people wake up God send His Son to save you animal killers .Your ansestors can't help you God can Repent your sins you idiots or you might burn someday for killing God's animals.
De Prince, wrote
Social policy or racial segregation involving political, economic and legal discrimination against people is the origination of this illiterate acts, and it will take sober and sanity individuals to uplift the people`s mind for this insanity not to prevail. THE RACE CARD wont work!!
Anonymous, wrote
As a white male I am deeply saddened by most of the comments posted here. This kind of cruelty is NOT typical of any population group or culture. As a child I remember hearing reports of how people inserted firecrackers into their pets anuses and let them off - for fun. These were educated white people. The point is that blacks and whites need to learn to reach out to one another and to stop stereotyping one another. Cruelty and superstition is not typical of any race but does occur in all races, all cultures and all population groups. That is the truth of it.
Anonymous, wrote
Oh for heaven's sakes people, this is an act of ignorance and perhaps fanatical persuasion (let's leave politics out of this). Shame on those involved is what I say
Anonymous, wrote
I think it would be best if a all Humans were somehow extinguished from this planet, we are supposed to be the gaurdians of this world and look what we are doing to it. We took the Land from them because we just want more and more and especially in Africa, the armpit of the world
SimplyComplx, wrote
Well its simply a lack of consciousnes, driven by their fear.. Its equally a lack in consciousnes as people eating meat, for the pleasure in taste.. Those animals still go through distress n face torturous conditions before they come nicely seald n packaged..
Anonymous, wrote
I think it would be best if a all Humans were somehow extinguished from this planet, we are supposed to be the gaurdians of this world and look what we are doing to it. We took the Land from them because we just want more and more and especially in Africa, the armpit of the world
MarcE, wrote
Anonymous, wrote
Please, Please visit www.Bambalela.org.za to see the wonderful work that is being done to rehabilitate Vervet monkeys back into the wild. Also visit Silke von Eynern's facebook page to read about the wonderful work they are doing. Perhaps you will be able to donate to the good cause since she is not receiving any financial assistance from the state. If only she had known about the poor monkey it could have been brough to her wonderful farm for a better life than the poor thing had!!
TOKYO3991, wrote
@Anon re "these people", it's a euphemism for IDIOTS irrespective of ethnicity.... in this case they happen to be black, but that's purely coincidence. @anon re Andrew, it's SHAPE UP OR SHIP OUT. Thanks for the laugh. Nothing about Julia is a foregone conclusion, not least of which is his murky future. YOU ship out dude!
Anonymous, wrote
@Anonymous... well spotted. Yes you are quite correct, "these people" is a euphemism for black people.
Anonymous, wrote
If you believe in Witcraft then please go back to school and get an Education, welcome to the 21st century, Oh yeah TIA
we hve Supossedly come so far a a human rece, but it seems some of us have gone nowhere, these peoploe are illiterate, and need to be culled ASAP!, wrote
we have Supposedly come so far a a human race, but it seems some of us have gone nowhere, these people are illiterate, and need to be culled ASAP! YES I SAID IT !!
Nick, wrote
Clint, what has religion got to do with this? Do you believe in hoodoovoodoo rubbish? Are yoiu in agreement that an innocent animal should be killed like that?
Anonymous, wrote
"These People" means anyone who gets pleasure out of torturing animals, mutilating and killing children for muti etc. If anonymous you can't work it out, don't ask stupid questions. Your question is what YOU are implying. An innocent animal was tortured and killed for fun by 'THESE PEOPLE'!!! Why does it matter whether they were black, white coloured or indian or in your case, just plain racist!!
Anonymous, wrote
And we wonder why foreigners are surprised there are not lions walking around in the street. There certainly are stupid people who are afraid of everything. I wonder if they're going to blame this on apartheid?
Anonymous, wrote
This mentallity will never change, unfortunatley its the culture of people in Africa to act like , thats why it will always be the Dark Continent, thats not Racist, just a age old proven fact!
Civilised, wrote
Don't compare people who do foolish or wrong to animals. Animals kill to eat and survive. They do not go and shop for food at PnP.
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