Durban - Premier Senzo Mchunu has ordered an urgent investigation into the “violation of human rights” of “many” families living on a farm in Richmond after a 6-year-old boy was attacked by a baboon on Friday.
Seluleko Xaba, 6, was playing in their yard with another child when the baboon attacked him. He is in a critical condition in hospital with severe wounds to his back and thighs.
His mother and grandmother were away for a church service when the incident happened. His grandfather, Bhekumuzi Xaba, came to his rescue after he heard him screaming.
Xaba said when he arrived to help his grandson, the baboon continued attacking Seluleko.
“The baboon only left when Seluleko was lying on the ground, his chest and ribs showing after it had raked him,” he said.
The boy was taken to Edendale Hospital where a team of doctors treated him.
“He was admitted with deep lacerations on the back and thigh. He has been sent to theatre… He is on strong pain control and antibiotics,” Mchunu said.
The Mercury has seen a photograph of the wounds.
Xaba said they lived next door to a farm where the baboons were and had, for many years, asked the owner to remove them or lock them up in a cage, but their complaints fell on deaf ears.
The Mercury tried to contact the farm owner, but he did not answer.
Seluleko’s grandmother, Eunice Xaba, said that on Tuesday last week, a troop of baboons camped outside the door of their home.
“We phoned the farmer. He came with his son, who was armed with a firearm. He instructed the son to scare the baboons off and told him not to kill them.
“The following day, one of the baboons returned and we phoned him. He sent a farmworker whom he also told not to kill the baboon but just scare it off,” she said.
Eunice Xaba said that on Thursday when it returned, she took a bush knife and threatened it.
The baboon left their property and it was not seen on Friday morning.
“It came later on and found the kids playing,” she said.
Mchunu said he was outraged that baboons were receiving preferential treatment at the expense of the safety of the farm dwellers.
“It has been brought to the attention of the Office of the Premier that the attack took place after the farm owner had warned that his baboons should not be hurt.” The owner gave the instruction “after the family had alerted him about a troop of baboons that were roaming on the farm and chasing children”, he said.
“It is unfortunate that we are ending human rights month with such a gruesome incident involving an innocent child. This is a sad reminder of ongoing violation of human rights of farmworkers and farm dwellers.
“Families complained bitterly that for years they have been fending off sustained attacks from a troop of baboons owned by the owner of the farm.
“For years, family crops have been destroyed by these baboons, exposing the families to food insecurity and abject poverty.
“Sadly, repeated pleas to the farm owner have been ignored. This is a clear indication that the welfare of baboons is the priority,” he said.