Niël Terblanché
Outraged residents of Swakopmund gathered in front of the Magistrate’s Court to protest against the granting of bail for three young men accused of killing a beloved pet dog and its sale for human consumption.
Three of the four suspects made their first appearance before the court on Wednesday.
The accused, Seth Skrywer (20), Lourens Nanub (18), and Mariando Bloedstaan (20), were released on bail of N$3 000 each, while a 12-year-old minor was placed under parental supervision.
The case was postponed to 18 March.
The accused persons were charged with theft, money laundering, and animal cruelty.
The shocking incident unfolded on Sunday when two rottweilers were stolen from their owner’s yard in Matutura.
One of the dogs, named Ragnir, was later found to have been killed in a particularly gruesome manner.
“It was discovered that four men stole Ragnir and killed him by hitting him with an axe over the head four times,” said Charne Wasserfall from the Civilian Animal Protection Unit (CAPU).
The accused persons sold the dog’s carcass to a kapana vendor for N$200, who then resold the barbecued meat to unsuspecting customers.
The surviving dog was later found alive at a property in the DRC location, but the fate of Ragnir has left Swakopmund residents devastated and enraged.
Earlier this week, Wasserfall condemned the act as barbaric and inhumane.
“I cannot even imagine the pain Ragnir had to endure when they were hitting him with an axe four times,” she said.
The case has sparked a public outcry, with concerned citizens and animal rights groups demanding harsher penalties for animal cruelty.
“The court and authorities have to see that we are sick and tired of this behaviour and will not tolerate it anymore,” residents gathered in front of the court building said on Wednesday
The incident has also reignited concerns over the illegal butchering and sale of dog meat, which is strictly prohibited under Namibian law.
Namibia’s Animal Protection Act forbids the killing of dogs for commercial purposes, including the sale of their meat or body parts.
The outraged Swakopmund was adamant that justice must be served, with many calling for stricter enforcement of animal protection laws and more severe consequences for perpetrators of such cruel acts.
