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On Thursday, workers and members of the surrounding community broke into the stables and began attacking the horses with stones, pangas, sticks and buns. Police were called in to disperse them with rubber bullets and stun grenades.
According to police spokesman Col. Priscilla Naidu, more than 150 protesters from the informal settlement of Fairview released about 28 horses early Thursday. She said witnesses reported that the horses “ran in all directions and their abusers taunted them with sticks and stones.”
Naidu said the injured horses were treated by the Animal Anti-Cruelty League. “A case of intentional damage to property is opened and investigated,” she said.
After Thursday’s incident, McGrath said, “We don’t owe you a penny and we follow all labor laws in this country. I have a court order against him. Now I am busy with my legal team to see what the next step is.
“These horses are owned by prominent people who now also call me to verify the safety of their horses.”
On the threat made by workers that protests would continue, preventing races from taking place at Fairview Racecourse, McGrath said: “My company only trains the horses and we have nothing to do with the racetrack.”
- This article was first published by GroundUp
