You can do anything to a donkey and get away with it. Donkeys are some of the most neglected animals; it's sad to think about what they go through here, said Makana Donkey Association chairperson Annerie Wolmarans.

You can do anything to a donkey and get away with it. Donkeys are some of the most neglected animals; it's sad to think about what they go through here, said Makana Donkey Association chairperson Annerie Wolmarans.

Speaking to Grocott's Mail this week Wolmarans became emotional as she spoke about the plight of donkeys in the area. She said the rate and the manner in which donkeys have died recently is serious cause for concern.

It's so sad to see the way the donkeys are killed, Wolmarans said. There have been many incidents where donkeys have died and five were even stabbed in Joza all because the owners had a fight.

Speaking about a recent accident where five donkeys were killed by alleged drag-racers, Wolmarans said more needed to be done to protect the animals. The docket of one of two men who were allegedly drag-racing when one of them drove into and killed four donkeys and an unborn foal, has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision, according to the police.

People walking along Dr Jacob Zuma Drive on 23 September were drawn in horror to the shocking sight of dogs scavenging on the bodies of a beheaded donkey and an unborn foal lying lifeless near its mother, her stomach ripped open by a car's impact. They were among five donkeys hit and killed by alleged drag-racers in the early hours of that day.

Two men were taken in for questioning according to police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender, but they were not arrested. Govender said a case of reckless and negligent driving was under investigation. Speaking to Grocott's Mail this week, she said the men had not been tested for drunk driving.

Residents in the area who were at the scene after the accident happened told Grocott's Mail they had been awoken by a loud noise around 4am on that Sunday.

In a statement issued after the accident Govender said two cars that were driving up Dr Jacob Zuma Drive at about 4am that Sunday were allegedly racing each other when one of the cars drove into four donkeys.

The SPCA expressed concern over the growing number of accidents involving donkeys shortly after the incident happened.

SPCA Animal Welfare Assistance and Inspector Monwabisi Dingana told Grocott's Mail that all the donkeys were already dead when he arrived at the scene. He said one of the donkey's heads lay 120 metres from its body before they moved them out of the road.

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