In Cape Town’s Khayelitsha suburb, the principal of Luhlaza Secondary School, Manono Makhaphela, ordered his janitors to bury a small dog with paralyzed legs alive. Makhaphela considered the dog, named Lily, a nuisance because she barked for food in the school playground. Fortunately, one of the cleaners, Bukelwa Mbulawa, reported the incident to the Mdzanada Animal Clinic, saving the dog’s life. Sadly, Mbulawa was dismissed from her job a week later on October 20, 2011.
Lily was found buried on the school’s tennis grounds, and rescuers had to search for almost 20 minutes before discovering her just 1.5 meters away. After being taken to a veterinary facility, it was discovered that her paralysis was caused by previous spinal cord damage, thankfully she did not suffer any significant injuries during the ordeal. The National Tax Authority brought Makhaphela to court, and Jane Levinson, the clinic’s project manager, provided evidence against him during the trial held at Khayelitsha Magistrates Court.
Makhaphela was found guilty of mistreating an animal, causing it pain and neglect. As a penalty, he was ordered to pay 6,000 South African Rand, with half of the fine being suspended for five years if he agrees to organize a program in his school that educates students about animal conservation.
Marcelle du Plessis, the Fundraising and Communications Manager at Mdzananda Animal Clinic, expressed gratitude to the ministerial authorities for taking action in regards to Mr. Makhaphela’s case. The clinic hopes that he will comply with the requirements on July 18th, and will submit progress reports on his educational program every six months for the next five years. While they acknowledge the need for strict monitoring of Mr. Makhaphela, the clinic is optimistic that this marks the beginning of justice for Lily. Regardless of how long Lily has been alive, the clinic remains committed to achieving the justice she deserves. Moreover, they believe that setting an example for future incidents of animal abuse is more important than pursuing justice for just one dog.
However, Poto Mfengu and Mkhumbuzi Ncedana, who were responsible for burying the dog alive and faced allegations of animal mistreatment, were given a sentence of 150 hours of community service at the Mdzananda Animal Clinic.
