A 69-year-old man has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty after two dogs were found dead at a property in Factreton, Cape Town.
The arrest took place on Thursday, 5 November 2026, according to The South African. One of the dogs was found floating in a water tank on the property.
“A dog accused of stealing food still deserves protection,” the Cape of Good Hope SPCA said. “Illness demands care. Neither circumstance excuses cruelty.”
The case started when a witness heard a dog crying. The SPCA said the witness saw the dog inside a water tank on the property. The witness described the animal as “alive and in distress”.
According to the witness, the man allegedly said the dog kept stealing their food. He allegedly said this was why he put it in the tank.
The witness offered to take the dog away. The man allegedly turned down the offer and left the dog in the tank. The witness then called the Cape of Good Hope SPCA.
An SPCA inspector went to the property but was not allowed in. The inspector asked the City of Cape Town Law Enforcement’s Animal Control Auxiliary Unit for help.
When the officers arrived, they were able to enter with the permission of the property owner.
“The man told Inspector Siviwe Noko, who leads this investigation, that the dogs had been sick and that he had placed them inside the tank to bathe them,” the SPCA said. “He said they had died and indicated where he had buried one of them.”
Officers found the body of a black and brown dog under a tree. It was wrapped in a towel and placed inside a black plastic bag.
They then took the body of a tan and black mixed breed dog out of the water tank, where it was floating.
The SPCA took both bodies for post-mortem tests. The organisation said these will form part of its further investigation.
The man was taken to Kensington police station, where he was charged with animal cruelty.
The SPCA said the claims in the case call for a full investigation. It said there must be accountability through the courts.
The SPCA asked members of the public to report animal cruelty. People can call 021 700 4158 or 021 700 4159 during office hours. For emergencies after hours, the number is 083 326 1604.
The man was scheduled to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 6 November 2026.
Source: this article is based on reporting by The South African. Image: The South African. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice News desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Kgomotso Maake covers news and politics for Tzaneen Voice. Kgomotso reports on government, Parliament, municipalities, courts, crime and service delivery across South Africa, with a close eye on how national decisions reach towns like Tzaneen and the wider Limpopo province. Stories are written in plain English and focus on the facts: who made the decision, what it means, and what happens next.