Holomisa sparks Facebook howl over chained canines
BANTU Holomisa thought he would get praise from his Facebook friends when he posted pictures of his chained dogs yesterday, but instead caused an outcry.
The United Democratic Movement leader came under fire from his social media friends who were shocked that he kept his Boerbulls in chains.
Holomisa had posted four picture of the dogs in chains at his Mthatha home and captioned his posts: “Exercise and Breakfast. My bodyguards.”
Facebook users lashed out at the UDM leader, accusing him of animal cruelty.
Mmabatho Fakude, one of the people who commented on Holomisa’s post, said: “Please do not chain dogs! They deserve to be free in an enclosure instead of chaining them. You are restricting their movements. It’s not right.
“Buy proper dog kennels where they will not be affected by the weather, Mr Holomisa. This is cruelty to animals!”
But other users, like Shaun Diedericks, came to Holomisa’s defence.
“As soon as these dogs bite someone’s arm off, everyone would be going ‘Why [were] his dogs not in chains?’. ”
Holomisa told the Sunday Times that those who criticised him were not aware he had to chain the dogs because he had visitors at his house.
“I have visitors, we are having a wedding. So I said in order for them to feel comfortable I will tie up the dogs.
“They are very vicious when strangers come into my yard.”
Holomisa said despite the criticism, his dogs were “clearly very healthy” and “normally roam freely around the yard”.
“I do understand those who might be negative. I take note. But they must know I cannot take chances, especially when guests travel from Johannesburg, are put up in my house and end up being chowed. That would make even more headlines,” he said with a chuckle yesterday.
“The . . . people campaigning on animal rights, I respect them. I will accept any criticism because they didn’t know what was taking place. I love them [dogs], you can see they are healthy,” said Holomisa.
He later commented on his own post and said: “These fit-looking good bodyguards of mine are always roaming freely inside my yard. But whenever I host guests . . . I play safe. They are not friendly at all to people who do not reside in my home.”