Professor Thabo Masihlelo has been found guilty of animal cruelty and sentenced to a R5,000 fine or 10 months in prison, with half of the sentence suspended for five years—on the condition that he does not reoffend.
Yogendra Negi/Unsplash
The Frankfort Magistrate’s Court in Free State handed down the sentence after convicting Masihlelo under the Animal Protection Act (APA).
The case followed a 2023 inspection by the National Council of SPCAs’ (NSPCA) Wildlife Protection Unit at Masihlelo’s property in Tweeling, Free State.
Inspectors found several lions in a dire state of starvation, with visible ribs, spines, and hip bones—signs of prolonged neglect.
“Although he claimed to be breeding captive lions for conservation, Masihlelo failed to meet even the most basic responsibility: feeding the animals,” said the NSPCA in a statement as reported by IOL.
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The organisation described the lions’ condition as a stark example of the disregard often shown towards the well-being of captive wildlife.
The case underscores broader issues plaguing South Africa’s captive lion industry, including unregulated breeding, canned hunting, the lion bone trade, and exploitative practices like cub petting.
“Captive lions are frequently kept in cramped enclosures with inadequate shelter, poor nutrition, and minimal veterinary care,” the NSPCA added. “They are denied a natural life and subjected to ongoing mistreatment.”
Chief Inspector Douglas Wolhuter, head of the NSPCA’s Wildlife Protection Unit, welcomed the conviction, although he noted the penalty fell short of what animal welfare advocates had hoped for.
“We would have preferred a harsher sentence,” said Wolhuter. “Still, this conviction sends a strong message: animal cruelty will not be tolerated.”
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