Mansfield: Who killed the cat?

2005-05-26 10:31

Pietermaritzburg - Radio presenter Jeremy Mansfield of Highveld 94.7 in Johannesburg has joined a growing list of people who have offered money as a reward for information on who killed a cat in a microwave oven.

Tango, the pet of the family of the University of KwaZulu-Natal campus security chief, was found dead in a microwave in a communal kitchen more than a week ago.

No one has owned up to the torture, despite a substantial reward being offered for information on who killed the cat.

"The reward now stands at R31 000," said Roland Fivaz of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Kloof, Durban, on Wednesday.

Fivaz said Mansfield's wife contacted him on behalf of her husband and pledged R10 000 to add to a reward for information on who killed the cat.

Fivaz said he was happy that people like Mansfield felt so strongly about cruelty to animals.

He said Durban businesses and two companies contributed R13 500.

At a meeting on Wednesday, night Fivaz told 49 students at Edgewood campus's Pinewood residence he might arrange indemnity if one of them gave up the culprits.

The students have a R100 fine hanging over them until the culprits are found.

Fivaz told The Witness after the meeting, from which media were barred: "Should a certain period lapse without anyone coming forward, much stronger legal action will be instituted."

Glynis Frara, the house mother at Pinewood residence, said: "We are positive the person or persons will be caught. It's always just a few students who spoil it for the rest."

Peter Korte, investigations manager for Howard College, said: "We are busy with an internal investigation and have interviewed a number of students".

All the residents have been asked to provide a written statement about where they were on the night of the killing, but not all have done so yet.

- The Witness