NSPCA to appeal after Thandi Modise acquitted of animal cruelty charges
The NSPCA has instructed their legal team to appeal the judgement against Thandi Modise after she was acquitted of animal cruelty charges.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) are set to appeal the judgement handed down to Thandi Modise on Friday.
Modise, speaker of the National Assembly in Parliament, was acquitted of all six charges relating to animal cruelty in the Potchefstroom Regional Court today, 30 April.
The court determined the man she hired to look after the animals “failed in his duties” when he left the farm complaining that he hadn’t been paid and that he should be held responsible.
Court hears of how animals suffered on Speaker Thandi Modiseâs farm
By Tarryn-Leigh Solomons
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Cape Town - The trial against National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise continued in court on Wednesday, with witnesses giving evidence on the conditions the animals were found in on the farm in the North West several years ago.
AfriForumâs chief investigator, Andrew Leask, said on Wednesday that Dr Sameer Abbas, a veterinarian, and a former employee at the farm gave detailed accounts on the events leading to the discovery of the animals.
Leask said Abbas, who was called out to the scene, concluded his evidence on Wednesday.
Gallo Images/Beeld/Deaan Vivier
Nimrod Tlhoaele, known as Khoroba, was called to the stand by advocate Gerrie Nel on Thursday.
Khoroba said
National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise s secretary had asked him to find someone to work on the farm.
During his testimony, he disputed allegations that there was not enough feed on the farm for the livestock, as stated by Tebogo Mokaedi, the man tasked with looking after the farm.
While Nimrod Tlhoaele, known as Khoroba, confirmed that the man looking after National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise s animals had told him there was no feed left for the animals, he disputed the allegation.
(Gallo Images)
National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise is currently on trial for animal cruelty relating to dead and emaciated animals found on her farm in the North West.
Modise s legal representative brought a Section 174 application to have the case discharge based on the evidence.
He argued there was no evidence linking Modise to the crimes or that she had not provided feed and water to the animals.
National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise wants the animal cruelty case against her discharged, arguing there is no evidence linking her to the crimes and the actual perpetrator was brought to court as a witness.
Jan Gerber, News24
National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise is currently on trial for animal cruelty relating to dead and emaciated animals found on her farm in the North West.
The man tasked with looking after the animals on the farm, said he left because he had no food and had not been paid.
Modise s legal representative, advocate Dali Mpofu SC, told the court that it was the caretaker who had abandoned and confined the animals.
The man tasked with looking after National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise s animals says he left her North West farm because he hadn t been paid and had no food.