Seal pup suspects appear in court
● Pair face string of charges after video of horrific assault on pup found to be genuine
Two fishermen who allegedly beat and stabbed a seal pup while filming the attack on a cellphone have appeared in the Laaiplek Magistrate’s Court in the Western Cape.
Their court appearance on Monday followed shocking cellphone video footage that emerged in June.
The video went viral, outraging people across the globe.
Rynard van der Heever, 22, and Marius Tredoux, 19, face a string of charges under the Biodiversity Act, the Marine Living Resources Act and the Animal Protection Act.
This after the police’s cyber unit had confirmed with Laaiplek police station investigators that the cellphone video was authentic.
The incident is believed to have taken place in the Veldrif area in the Western Cape.
About 50 people from various animal rights groups, including the SPCA and department of environmental affairs, were at the court.
Laaiplek police station commander Captain Predon Ackeer confirmed that the case was postponed to October 15.
An investigator, who declined to be named, said the case was postponed for the two to consult with their lawyer.
The men were released on warning.
West Coast and Swartland SPCA chair Colette Mang welcomed the swift action by police, calling for a speedy trial and harsh punishment.
“I watched the video again last night after only being able to watch it once,” she said.
“It is truly sickening. Watching them laugh and actually enjoying it is just horrific.
“We are very happy that there is action on this case and that there will be justice.
“We will be at court every time to make sure this goes swiftly.”
Mang said her team had worked hand-in-hand with the police to ensure a strong case.
“We have never dealt with a situation like this, where there are dual charges in terms of the Biodiversity Act and the Animal Protection Act,” she said.
“Usually, as the SPCA, we prepare our own docket and investigation.
“We then hand it to the police who take it through the processes.
“We are just so happy this is going forward.
“There will be justice for this horrific incident.”
At the time, Bayworld marine biologist Dr Greg Hofmeyr said the young seal was unlikely to have survived.
The disturbing two-minute clip shows two men on a boat, called the Sea Hawk, continuously beat and stab a Cape Fur seal pup while taking the video.
In the video, the seal is trapped in a compartment on the boat’s deck and frantically tries to climb out as it is being beaten and slashed with a knife.
The fishermen then grab the pup by the neck and throw it against the deck of the boat.
At one stage, the man taking the video tells his accomplice to give the seal beer, which he pours over the pup.
He grabs the pup’s hind flippers, lifts it off the ground and then tries to pour beer into its mouth while it tries to wiggle free.
Before the video ends, the man swings the seal over his head and then smashes it back onto the deck.
Van der Heever is suspected of having filmed the video while Tredoux is alleged to have carried out the attack.
Shortly after the video surfaced on June 11, Mang identified the two suspects, prompting a criminal case to be opened for investigation.
The incident, described as barbaric by investigators, triggered a probe by the department of environmental affairs and tourism, the SPCA and the police.
Investigations revealed that the video was filmed in December.