Target: John Steenhuisen, Minister of Agriculture, Republic of South Africa
Goal: Strengthen penalties for deliberate animal cruelty, particularly when abuse is filmed or distributed online for entertainment or attention.
Four donkeys pulling a cart were subjected to disturbing abuse that was filmed and shared on TikTok. The video showed Nano Masalesa, known online as “Skeem Noa,” running alongside the cart, shouting at the animals, and repeatedly slapping them across their faces. The frightened donkeys appeared to visibly react and attempt to pull away.
The NSPCA traced the animals after being alerted to the footage in 2022. Inspectors subsequently found 11 donkeys enclosed without drinking water. The four animals appearing in the video and a suckling foal were surrendered, treated for internal and external parasites, and eventually made available for adoption.
Masalesa was convicted of animal cruelty in August 2026 under South Africa’s Animals Protection Act. The court postponed sentencing for three years, conditional upon him paying R5,000 to the Polokwane SPCA. The case highlights whether existing penalties sufficiently deter deliberate cruelty performed for online attention.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Minister Steenhuisen,
A TikTok video showed four donkeys being repeatedly slapped across their faces while pulling a cart. The person responsible has since been convicted of animal cruelty, nearly four years after the NSPCA first became aware of the footage.
This case should prompt serious consideration of whether existing penalties adequately address deliberate animal abuse created or distributed for entertainment. Social media can give cruelty an enormous audience and potentially reward shocking behavior with attention, engagement, and notoriety.
Please support stronger penalties for intentional animal cruelty and measures recognizing the aggravating nature of deliberately filming or distributing abuse for entertainment. Animals should never become unwilling props for violent online content. South African law should provide consequences strong enough to deter anyone tempted to exploit animal suffering for views.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Tambako The Jaguar
