THE NAUGHTY tiger (tuur) has been found and shot.
Sheba the cat as it is known (8) was euthanised in the early hours of this morning in Arboretum Farm at Walkers Fruit Farms, Walkerville, according to Community policing forum’s Gresham Mandy.
“She had entered a farm area with six dwellings and with families living there. Sheba attacked and killed one of the domestic animals, and a call was made for urgent assistance. Members responded to the scene, and began to track the tiger,” Mandy added.
“Due to the terrain and area, it was not possible to contain her or secure her safely.
“At 03:45, the decision was made to euthanise her while it was still safe to do so. Unfortunately, at that moment in time, darting her was not an option. Sheba had moved during the night across the hills to the west side of Fruit Farms, bringing her close to livestock and other residents in a more densely populated area,” said Mandy, who confirmed the patrol team consisted of police, community and private security.
Since its escape, it has attacked William Mokoena (39), a pig and two dogs. Both dogs had to be put down due to the severity of their injuries.
Mokoena is receiving treatment at a hospital and confirmed was “still traumatised”.
“How I survive only God knows, because I fought using my hands and legs as it tried going for my neck. I fought hard and the experience will live with me, for as long as I’m alive”, said Mokoena who is heavily bandaged on both legs.
The tigress, escaped from its enclosure on a smallholding in Walkerville over the weekend.
Mokoena has since appointed high-profile lawyer Zola Majavu to investigate suing the owner Rassie Erasmus, who also joined in the search this morning.
Majavu said his instruction “is to investigate the potential of a legal suit. You don’t just rush off suing someone, you have to determine the extent of the negligence”.
“We also have to look at the extent of the injuries so that we are able to quantify the claim. It is still early days,” Majavu told News24 on Tuesday.
The attorney said his client’s rights would not be limited to just suing Sheba’s owners, and they were considering opening a criminal case.
He said: His options include a lawsuit, and I am investigating the possibility of any criminal action against [the owner], which the National Prosecuting Authority will investigate.
“If they decline to prosecute, I will prosecute him [the owner] privately,” he added.
Erasmus has not commented on the matter and suing thereof.
Image (Rassie Erasmus and one of his tigers).
