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Some of the former employees of Dippin Blu Racing in Fairview, Port Elizabeth, who stormed the stables in protest on Thursday, killed a horse and injured more than 20.
Guard Aid, GroundUp
- The owner of a physical education stable is considering legal action after a group of former hairdressers allegedly broke into the stables.
- One horse died and 20 others were injured.
- Some 28 horses were reportedly released by residents on Thursday.
The owners of Dippin Blu Racing in Fairview, Port Elizabeth, are considering legal action against a group of their former groomers who allegedly stormed the stables in protest Thursday, killing one horse and injuring more than 20 more, GroundUp reports.
“This is the worst day of my life. What they have done to my horses is barbarous and no human being can do that to animals. They stabbed and stoned my horses. One is dead and 29 are injured and traumatized. He The vet will later determine the extent of the injuries, “said a distraught Hedley McGrath, owner of Dippin Blu.
READ | Man arrested after attacks with physical education racehorses
The conflict appears to stem from an incident in February. A worker apparently injured a horse. McGrath says the worker stabbed a horse in the neck, while the workers dispute this, saying the worker mistakenly cut off a horse’s ear during grooming.
McGrath said, “All these [workers] he cared for millions of rand expensive racehorses that can’t even hurt a fly. They came to me on February 14th after the 7th incident. They said ‘please boss pay this guy to go away’. I said I don’t pay someone to stab my horse and no one can bribe me. He stabbed my horse in the neck and almost died. Then they decided to stay home and not come to work. “
But Mbeko Kolisile, a worker, said: “In February one of our colleagues was busy cutting a hair from the horse. The horse jumped up and cut off his ear by mistake. But our boss got angry and fired him, claiming that the vet would charge.” . he R13 000. We asked the owner not to fire him, but to deduct money from all of us because that mistake could happen to all of us. But he fired us all. “
Workers brought the matter to the Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CCMA) in March, just before the national lockdown was implemented.
“During level 4 of the confinement we went back to the CCMA and they asked us to file a new complaint. Our boss told us that we could go anywhere but that we will never win our case. So we decided to drop the case and ask for our FIU and service money. because we are struggling financially, “Kolisile said.
On Wednesday, the workers went to the Port Elizabeth Department of Labor to apply for the FIU and were told they were ineligible because they had run away from work.
On Thursday, workers and surrounding residents 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 Colonel 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 with their abusers taunting 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 [sic] and under investigation, “he 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 you. Now I’m busy with my legal team to see what the next step is.
“These horses are owned by prominent people who are now also calling me to verify the safety of their horses.”
On the threat made by workers that the 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.”
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