Cape Town community horrified after man kills kittens - SPCA demands justice
The suspect was arrested on the scene by Law Enforcement officers and detained at Elsies River SAPS.
Image: SPCA
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA has condemned a horrific case of animal cruelty after several kittens were brutally killed in Ruyterwacht, Cape Town.
The incident has left the community outraged and sparked renewed calls for harsher penalties against those who abuse animals.
On October 29, 2025, the SPCA received a distressing report that an individual had been seen attacking and killing kittens in Pringle Close, Ruyterwacht.
Residents intervened and detained the suspect until SPCA Inspectors and officers from the City of Cape Town’s Animal Control Unit arrived on the scene.
Inspectors discovered a yellow plastic bag containing three deceased kittens. Their bodies were bloodied and showed clear signs of blunt force trauma, suggesting they had been viciously beaten before being discarded and buried in the sand.
The bodies of the 3 kittens were bloodied and showed clear signs of blunt force trauma, suggesting they had been viciously beaten before being discarded and buried in the sand.
Image: SPCA
A post-mortem examination will be conducted to confirm the cause of death and strengthen the case for prosecution.
Amid the tragedy, one kitten miraculously survived. Rescued by a concerned resident, the injured kitten was handed over to the SPCA and rushed to a private veterinary hospital for emergency treatment.
X-rays revealed a fractured leg consistent with blunt force trauma. The kitten, now affectionately named “Hope” remains under care and is expected to make a full recovery.
Witnesses reported seeing the suspect, a 32-year-old man, walking through the area carrying a box of live kittens earlier that day.
He allegedly tried to sell them to raise money for drugs. When no one agreed to buy, he is accused of fatally injuring the kittens before dumping their bodies in the street.
The suspect was arrested on the scene by Law Enforcement officers and detained at Elsies River SAPS. The SPCA has laid charges of animal cruelty under the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962.
Chief Inspector Jaco Pieterse of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA expressed deep outrage at the act, saying:
“These kittens suffered unimaginable pain at the hands of someone who showed no compassion or humanity. No living being deserves to die this way. We commend the swift action of our Inspectors, the City’s Animal Control Unit, and the community members who stood up for these helpless animals.”
The SPCA extended its gratitude to the City of Cape Town Law Enforcement: Animal Control Unit for their assistance, as well as to the members of the public who intervened and reported the crime.
“This case is a reminder that animal cruelty is a serious offence,” Pieterse added. “We will continue to work tirelessly with Law Enforcement and SAPS to ensure that those who commit such barbaric acts are held fully accountable.”
The SPCA is urging members of the public to report all acts of cruelty or neglect immediately. Reports can be made anonymously, ensuring that no animal suffers in silence.
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