Home » Crowdfunding for Adv. Gerrie Nel to Represent NSPCA in High Profile Animal Cruelty Case

Crowdfunding for Adv. Gerrie Nel to Represent NSPCA in High Profile Animal Cruelty Case

The National Council of SPCAs has the formidable task of ensuring the nationwide protection of all animal species from abuse, neglect, and cruelty. One of the most effective ways to do this, is through the courts. Sadly, in the fight for justice, the plight of animals is often ignored or found at the bottom of […]

By SAPeople Contributor
06-08-19 19:14
in Business

The National Council of SPCAs has the formidable task of ensuring the nationwide protection of all animal species from abuse, neglect, and cruelty. One of the most effective ways to do this, is through the courts. Sadly, in the fight for justice, the plight of animals is often ignored or found at the bottom of the agenda.

Adv. Gerrie Nel

A BackaBuddy campaign, launched by the NSPCA, aims to raise funds for Adv. Gerrie Nel to represent the National Council of SPCAs in a high-profile case in respect of inhumane treatment which led to the suffering of defenseless, voiceless animals.

THE CASE: The NSPCA v Thandi Modise.

The National Council of SPCAs’ case involves allegations of the gross neglect of animals on Modderfontein farm belonging to Thandi Modise, Former Premier of the North West, ex-President of the ANC Woman’s League, former Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, and currently Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa.

On being alerted to the situation on the farm, officials of the National Council of SPCAs found a gruesome scene of unfed animals left to starve to death after workers had allegedly abandoned the farm, having not received their wages.

Officials were shocked by the sight of about live pigs cannibalizing on dead and newborn pigs to survive.  Without the provision of water, the pigs had also been forced to drink their own urine.

Sheep, geese, goats and ducks were also among the neglected animals found on the farm.

By the time the officials arrived, 50 animals had already died as a result of the lack of food and water. 162 animals were in such a terrible condition that they had to be humanely euthanised to prevent further suffering.

“The NSPCA, having been approached by Advocate Gerrie Nel, is indebted to the legal team, without whom justice would not even be a possibility due to the enormous investigative process and the invaluable legal experience of the legal team. As said by Mahatma Gandhi: ‘The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated’,” says Marcelle Meredith, Executive Director of the NSPCA.

THE REASON FOR CROWDFUNDING ON BACKABUDDY

Two years after a criminal case of animal cruelty was opened for contravening the Animals Protection Act, the State declined to prosecute. An application was then successfully made to the Director of Public Prosecution to privately prosecute, allowing for a private prosecution which will be undertaken on a pro amico basis by Adv. Gerrie Nel.

A case of this magnitude is estimated to take a minimum of 30 days and can be extremely expensive. The campaign launched on donations based crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy aims to raise funds to cover the National Council of SPCAs legal fees for the “Animal Farm”  case to successfully prosecute, raise awareness, and to make the point to future perpetrators that no one is above the law, irrespective of political power, money, and/or fame. A successful prosecution will also help develop case law.

DONATE TO SUPPORT THE NSPCA:

Donate to the ‘Animal Farm’ campaign on BackaBuddy to help cover the legal fees of Non-profit Organisation, the National Council of SPCAs, in its case against Thandi Modise.

The campaign has thus far raised R11 364.53 towards the fundraising target of R200 000 with contributions from 18 donors.

Support this cause on BackaBuddy: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/gerrie-nel-animal-farm or visit the www.backabuddy.co.za homepage.

Alternatively, make use of this Snapscan code to make a donation:

All funds generated by this campaign will be administered by registered Non-profit Organization, BackaBuddy and paid directly to Non-profit Organization, the National Council of SPCAs for costs strictly related to the Animal Farm case.

All donors qualify for a Section 18A Tax exemption certificate issued by the National Council of SPCAs.

“We need fellow South Africans to stand with us. As a society, we can no longer stand by and watch powerful individuals abuse their positions to carry out heinous acts without consequence”, says Advocate Nel.

Representing the National Council of SPCAs – Adv Gerrie Nel

  • Adv Gerrie Nel has had a long and distinguished career of 35 years as one of South Africa’s top prosecutors at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

  • He received the International Prosecutors’ Award for his successful prosecution of Jackie Selebi, then South African Police Commissioner and Head of Interpol.

  • He also successfully prosecuted former Paralympic champion, Oscar Pistorius for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp.

  • Advocate Nel is committed to ensuring equality before the law, regardless of an individual’s political connections and position of power. In a fair and just South Africa there can be no selective prosecution.

For contact information for this campaign, please email zane@backabuddy.co.za.