6 in court after live butchering

Six people appeared in the Adelaide magistrate’s court on Monday in connection with theft of a black hartebeest and contravening the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (Nemba).

The accused were arrested in April after the killing of the animal was filmed on a cellphone and went viral.

The video showed about 50 people attacking the dying animal, one man hacking it with a spade while some pelted it with stones in front of children and barking dogs.

The accused are Luthando Ndala, 33, Xolisile Mkhwelela, 18, Sinethemba Soleba, 23, Yanga May, 20, Akhanye Jantjies, 21, and Thanduxolo Nango, 28.

Eastern Cape provincial police spokesperson Colonel Sibongile Soci said the accused were out on bail.

The six were arrested by the Green Scorpions in April after they were positively identified in the video. Green Scorpions investigating officer Etienne Kitching told the Dispatch the six are charged with theft of game and contravening sections of the Nemba.

Soci said the case was postponed to November 19 and 20 because the defence lawyer was sick.

Police and the Green Scorpions launched a manhunt after a fence of nearby Molweni Private Game Reserve was cut open and scores of residents allegedly started hunting down the game, which includes endangered species.

In April police and the Green Scorpions warned Red Location residents to stop stealing game from the reserve.