Update
WILDERNESS NEWS - A Rondevlei man (83) was convicted of animal cruelty and a firearms-related offence following the fatal shooting of a juvenile vervet monkey with a pellet gun, bringing to a close a case that drew widespread concern over the treatment of wildlife in residential areas.
The George Magistrate’s Court found Malcolm Greaves guilty on 29 January on charges of animal cruelty, in contravention of the Animal Protection Act, as well as the negligent discharge of an air gun.
Greaves was handed down a fine of R5 000 or one year imprisonment, wholly suspended for three years on condition that he is not convicted of similar offences during the period of suspension. He now has a criminal record and was also declared unfit to possess a firearm or hold a firearm licence.
Background
On 7 May 2025, a neighbour heard what sounded like pellet gun shots in Rondevlei, followed by distressed screeches among a troop of vervet monkeys.
The witness said he found a young monkey collapsed on Greaves’ driveway, surrounded by some adult monkeys.
He said he saw Greaves standing on his stoep with what looked like a rifle on which a telescopic sight was fitted, and alleged that a second shot was fired, after which one of the adult monkeys reacted as if injured. The witness attempted to rescue the juvenile monkey, but it died shortly afterwards.
Legal implications
Discharging a firearm, including an air gun, in a built-up residential area is an offence. Wildlife is also protected under the Animal Protection Act, and courts are increasingly treating offences involving cruelty to animals as serious criminal matters.
“This case highlights the devastating impact that reckless and unlawful actions can have on wildlife. The suffering endured by this juvenile vervet monkey, and the trauma caused to the rest of the troop, was entirely preventable,” said GRSPCA branch manager Sue Noakes.
“Accountability matters, and this conviction sends a clear message that cruelty will not be tolerated. We will never hesitate to prosecute animal cruelty, regardless of the age of the perpetrator.”
The monkey died shortly after the incident.
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