By Anita Dangazele
SABC Journalist and producer Mkhokeli Bandla has appeared in court after he allegedly posted a video of himself torturing rats on his Facebook page back in August 2018.
Bandla was charged with animal cruelty shortly after posting the video and appeared at Motherwell
Magistrate’s Court in Gqeberha on Tuesday,
Bandla is said to have deleted the clip shortly after he posted it. However, it was too late as it had been circulated and forwarded to Animal Anti-Cruelty League (AACL). It is alleged that Bandla filmed the act before posting it on social media.
In the video three rats can be seen immobilised by a glue trap and then repeatedly burnt with a cigarette lighter.
It is further alleged that Bandla issued an apology on his Facebook page shortly after deleting the very graphic video.
The apology read “This serves as an apology to everyone who has been disturbed by my recent graphic video.”
Despite seemingly admitting to his actions, Bandla now denies being the person responsible for the cruel acts.
During the filming of the video, a male, allegedly Bandla, and an unknown female, can be heard laughing in the background.
Bandla is being defensive, according to Karien van Schalkwyk of the AACL, insisting he was not the man in the video and that there was no evidence against him because he was not visible in the video.
Bandla’s voice can be heard in the video, and Van Schalkwyk claims that after comparing it to other footage uploaded to his Facebook page, they are positive it was him.
“Why would he apologise on Facebook after taking down the video, if it wasn’t him?”
When approached for comment, Bandla declined to comment, saying the matter is being handled by the courts.
The case has been postponed to 24 January.
Pictured above: SABC Journalist, Mkhokeli Bandla
Image source: Supplied
