Photo for illustration. (Photo: Marc Phillips / Unsplash)
A rodeo organizer was arrested on Saturday at an event outside Middelburg in Mpumalanga after allegedly deliberately disobeying a court order obtained by the National Animal Protection Association (NPPA).
According to Keshvi Nair, the SPCA’s national spokesperson, this court order prohibits the use of belly bands and/or spurs on any bulls during these rodeo events.
“Belly bands are tied tightly around the sides and genitals of the bulls, which makes the animals buck,” she said.
“The spurs are attached to the riders’ boots, which pierce the soft skin of these bulls and cause them to buck wildly. This so-called entertainment often causes discomfort and pain for the animals.”
According to the SPCA, the court order was served on the organizer of the rodeo event early Saturday morning in the presence of the police.
“However, the organizer said that he would not listen to it.”
In a short video of the incident where people can be seen with marks on their boots, a man can be heard saying “I’m going to ride it, they can just arrest me”.
The SPCA inspectors warned the organizer that breaching the court order would have serious consequences.
“The SPCA monitored the event and as expected the court order was violated by the organizer.
“The SPCA notified the police and they arrested the organizer. He was taken in a police vehicle to the Middelburg police station where the complaint was filed against him. He is still in police custody.”
The SPCA says the organization stands by its stance that rodeo events are not “amusing or entertaining”, and says it will do everything in its power to protect animals from suffering during such events.
“The arrest of this organizer sends a clear message to anyone who wants to participate in such events that breaking the law will not be tolerated.”
