Modise will stand trial on 1-3 December 2020 in the town’s Regional Court after AfriForum dragged her to court.

This after she was accused of animal cruelty when carcasses of geese, ducks, sheep and goats were, amongst others, were found at her farm in 2014 during a visit by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA), following a tip-off.

AfriForum's chief investigator, Andrew Leask, tells OFM News that the charges she is facing carry a sentence of not more than twelve months and a fine not exceeding R4000.

Leask further says Modise was not found in contempt of court after she failed to appear in her last court date in March.

On Wednesday, Modise’s legal representative argued that President Cyril Ramaphosa instructed her in March to help manage the COVID-19 pandemic and that she couldn’t appear in court.

“AfriForum welcomes the fact that a date for prosecution has now at long last been determined. We will not allow the accused to turn this hearing into a racial issue. The legal system is supposed to be colour-blind. No-one is above the law, not even the speaker of parliament,” Leask says.

He adds the civil movement is looking forward to finally begin with the hearing so that Modise can be held accountable for this barbarous case of animal cruelty.

OFM News previously reported that 162 starving animals were left to fend for themselves and eventually had to be euthanised on Modise's farm near Potchefstroom. The report further said that the carcasses of over 50 pigs were littered across the farm.

OFM News