Heavy fine awaits cat-killer

2005-05-26 12:33

Durban - The person responsible for microwaving a live cat at the University of KwaZulu-Natal could be slapped with a fine of up to R20 000 or a prison sentence of up to four years, the SPCA said on Thursday.

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals inspector Roland Fivaz said: "I am prepared to speak to the magistrate on behalf of getting charges lessened against the person who comes forward."

So far individuals and companies have together pledged R31 700 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who killed Tango the cat in the microwave oven in a communal kitchen in the university's Pinewood residence.

One of the biggest donations was from Johannesburg radio presenter, Jeremy Mansfield from Highveld 94.7, who on Wednesday dug deep into his pocket and pledged an amount of R10 000.

Although grateful for the public's response, Fivaz said: "I find it disturbing that we have to pay someone to do the right thing."

He said all the students living in the residence had handed in reports on where they were on the night the cat was killed. He was also toying with the idea of polygraph tests.

According to Fivaz, the chief of security services on the campus, Nareen Rambharren, has stepped down from the investigation because Tango the cat belonged to him.

- SAPA