Held up at gunpoint and beaten – Khayelitsha Animal Clinic staff shaken

The Mdzananda Animal Clinic’s staff were brutally attacked while trying to do good in the community. 

The organisation recently launched “The Fencing Project” – an initiative to build fences around community members’ yards. The aim is to create more safe homes for people who wish to adopt dogs. 

“A secure yard is a prerequisite for adoption,” says Marcelle du Plessis, Fundraising and Communications Executive. “There are many great families in the community who wish to adopt dogs but who don’t have fenced yards – now we are helping their adoption dream come true.”

Yesterday afternoon, while building the first fence of the programme for a dog named Speedy, four staff were held up at gunpoint and mercilessly attacked. Mthobeli Mgumane, Tabo Noko, Magcinandile Mzondi and Lynton Adams were the victims. 

Their generator, tools, wallets, cellphones and car keys were stollen. Magcinandile got beaten over the head with a gun and then a hammer and Tabo got beaten on the back with a hammer. Both were rushed to the hospital’s emergency room. The other two staff were luckily unharmed but are extremely shaken. 

“Magcinandile has suffered a haematoma and needed stitches on his head. Tabo has multiple contusions to his back,” says Sr Heidi May, General Manager. “I am so angry. We work so hard for this community to elevate and empower people and to make the lives of animals better. It is sad how the criminal element affects the good people of Khayelitsha who want to have a normal safe environment for their families and their pets.”

“I am absolutely heartbroken,” says Marcelle du Plessis. “This fencing project would change so many lives, creating homes for pets, but now we are scared to continue building them.”

The clinic has called for donations to help cover the costs of replacing the generator, tools, car keys, personal items and to pay for medical bills. Any donations can be made to Mdzananda Animal Clinic, Standard Bank, Account 075595710, Branch 025009, Savings Account, Reference: robbery + your name. 

Other donation portals and SnapScan codes are available on www.mdzananda.co.za/donate-ctzx

About Mdzananda Animal Clinic (www.mdzananda.co.za)
The Mdzananda Animal Clinic is a permanent, veterinary council registered, NPO animal clinic in Khayelitsha, a township just outside of Cape Town, South Africa, home to 400 000 people (2011 census) and their pets. The clinic serves an average of 1500 animals per month through consultations, hospitalisation, general and orthopaedic surgeries, a sterilisation clinic, mobile clinics and an animal ambulance. Mdzananda has a strong focus on community empowerment and education to ensure responsible pet ownership into the future.

Source: Mdzananda Animal Clinic

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