Viral video leads to NSPCA charges against man who was pouring beer into a fish's mouth

The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) said it will be laying criminal charges against a man who was seen in a recent viral video pouring an alcoholic beverage, suspected to be beer, down the mouth of a fish identified as a common carp.

The NSPCA said it has since tracked the man who posted the video on TikTok under the handle, Lethabo_Sebapo.

"(He) has been tracked, and contacted, and the compilation of a docket is in its final stages," said NSPCA spokesperson, Jacques Peacock.

In the video, the man is seen laughing and holding a fish in one hand while pouring beer into its mouth.

While he's in the act, people are laughing in the background while the man appears entertained throughout the video.

Peacock said the man admitted to the act and stated that his motivation was only for fun.

He added that the man will face criminal charges under the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962.

"Since the rise of social media platforms like TikTok, the NSPCA has seen an alarming increase in videos depicting animal cruelty. Much of our Inspectors' time and resources are now taken up by tracking and investigating the sources of such videos.

"The NSPCA is heartened by the widespread condemnation of the man's actions, which reflects the compassion many South Africans feel for animals - including fish, who are often overlooked in their capacity for sentience and suffering.

"We hope this prosecution will serve as a strong deterrent, discouraging individuals not only from publishing acts of animal cruelty as a form of entertainment but also from committing them in the first place," added Peacock.

sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za

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