SPCA crying fowl

2003-08-15 12:53

Johannesburg - The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is calling for criminal charges to be brought against the cast and producers of a Cape Town play in which a live chicken was killed on stage, a media report said on Friday.

Most of the audience at the Baxter Theatre walked out when the bird's throat was cut during the final night of the play iMumbo Jumbo.

"In addition to gathering information about the method of killing, the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is exploring how many people knew of this or who stood by passively and allowed it to happen," the SPCA said in a statement.

"Charges laid will include mishandling of a chicken. A further charge will be laid under the Performing Animals Protection Act," the statement said.

The act was performed by a traditional healer, who said the chicken was slaughtered as part of ancestral worship.

But the SPCA has rejected that claim.

"Switching an animal for sacrifice is contrary to African custom and belief," the SPCA said.

"If a ceremony like this was used for closing, then there should have been an opening ceremony, which never took place."

- AFP