Modise fights cruelty case as ‘conspiracy’

NATIONAL Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise’s defence counsel has indicated its intention to reject the animal cruelty charges against her and have gone as far as to describe them as a political conspiracy peddled by AfriForum.

Modise yesterday returned to the dock at the Potchefstroom regional court in the North West where she continued to be grilled of having failed to provide feed to more than 147 pigs, 59 sheep, 11 lambs, 54 goats and 25 chickens, among other animals, which resulted in their emaciation and death.

AfriForum took up the case on behalf of the National Council of SPCAs after the National Prosecuting Authority did not go ahead with the case.

Advocate Dali Mpofu who represented Modise indicated his client was already contemplating instituting a lawsuit against AfriForum after the trial. “There might even be civil costs involved in this because this is a frivolous political stunt by AfriForum to gain publicity at the expense of the Speaker of Parliament,” Mpofu said.

Modise faces six counts of contravening the Animals Protection Act. |