Church Members Sentenced for Killing an Owl
A senior pastor and two church members in Limpopo have been sentenced for animal cruelty after they abused a Western Barn Owl at the Potters House Word Church.
The Tshilwavhusiku Magistrates Court sentenced Charles Mudau (43), Justice Makushu (54), and Albert Mushiana (54) to 12 months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years, or a fine of R20,000.
The court also ordered them to pay R15,000 or serve an additional 12 months in prison, suspended for five years, on the condition that each pays R7,500 in compensation to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Louis Trichardt.
Their conviction stems from an incident on July 18, 2023, when they killed an owl during a church service.
According to regional spokeswoman Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, the trio spotted the owl on the church roof and captured it with a stick.
They then subjected it to cruel treatment, including pouring salt in its eyes and oil on its head. The act was recorded by the church’s videographer and subsequently shared on social media, prompting SPCA intervention.
State advocate Tula Bekwa emphasized that the Constitution guarantees the right to a safe environment and highlighted the Limpopo Environment Management Act, which protects wildlife.
Dr. Magdeline “Gogo Thakane” Moloi, a traditional healer, noted that many view owls as omens of bad luck, but she believes they are divine creatures. “People associate owls with witchcraft simply because they are nocturnal,” she explained.
Brendan Murray, manager of the Owl Rescue Centre, stated that superstitions contribute to the mistreatment of owls.
He urged the community to report sightings to help protect these birds, emphasizing that education has reduced owl attacks by humans in recent years.
