Pair sue nature reserve boss
Men say Krull forced them to eat remains of dead dog
TYITYABA Nature Reserve manager Karl Krull is being sued forR300 000 by two men who have accused him of feeding them a dead dog.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Grahamstown declined earlier this year to prosecute Krull on the same allegations, saying there was insufficient evidence in the criminal case.
However, Lwando Folokwe, 26, and Akhona Dyantyi, have opened a civil case against Krull for the alleged incident.
The Dispatch has now seen a letter of demand, dated August 21, from East London law firm Fihla and Associates addressed to Krull, demanding that he pay Folokwe, and Dyantyi R150 000 each for “deeply hurting, humiliating and tarnishing their reputations”.
The two men’s lawyer Thamsanqa Fihla said yesterday they had instructed the sheriff of the court to serve summons on Krull after he failed to respond to their letter within 14 days.
“He called saying he will respond but he never did.
Krull declined to comment yesterday.
The lawsuit relates to an incident on the afternoon of August 19 last year when Krull and his employee Siza Masentile allegedly caught Folokwe and Dyantyi inside the nature reserve dead bushbuck.
Folokwe and Dyantyi claimed Krull shot dead their two dogs, pointed his gun at them and ordered them to eat one dead dog, which they say they did.
Folokwe and Dyantyi were later arrested and charged with illegal hunting. That case is being heard in the Komga Magistrate’s Court and will be back again on the roll on October 17.
Fihla said he had also written to the DPP advocate Lungi Mahlati asking him to furnish them with reasons for declining to prosecute Krull. In his response Mahlati said: “The decision not to prosecute Mr Krull and his employee was taken at the same time that a decision was taken to prosecute your clients on “poaching” charges.
“The docket and counter with a dockets were considered jointly. Only once the case against your clients has been finalised shall I evaluate the evidence and credibility findings made by the magistrate and inform you of my final decision and provide you with reasons.” — zwangam@dispatch.co.za