Angry mob slaughters 90 animals while police do nothing – Farmer awarded R2 million

Durban – The Ministry of Police has been ordered to pay more than R2 million in damages to KwaZulu-Natal game farmer Arnold Raath after an angry mob slaughtered 80–90 of his animals in May 2015, while police failed to intervene.

Durban High Court Judge Mokgere Masipa said the case highlighted the state’s constitutional duty to protect individuals and their property.

According to Times Live, the attack was sparked by false claims that Raath had poisoned cattle belonging to the Mdletshe community. Despite repeated warnings and calls from Raath and witnesses, police did not act to stop the politically charged assembly.

Judge Masipa noted that police had sufficient resources, including riot control units and equipment, to disperse the crowd but did not deploy them. She described their omissions as “wrongful and negligent,” ruling that Raath was entitled to damages exceeding R2 million, plus interest and costs.

As reported by The Citizen, Raath, who farms macadamias, pineapples, and game on Kroonvrug Farm, testified that 80–90 of his animals were slaughtered by the angry mob.

The incident began after cattle from the Mdletshe community strayed onto his farm and died — later proven not to have been poisoned.

Raath said he repeatedly warned the Hluhluwe police station, including Captain Zelda Ntuli, about the planned protest and escalating destruction. Despite his calls and a visible police presence, the mob set fire to machinery, destroyed crops, and killed his animals, while police largely stood by.

Police argued that their priority was Raath’s personal safety and that they were overwhelmed by the crowd, claiming they could not see the animals being killed.

Ntuli admitted the poisoning allegations were false and that she had sufficient police resources but did not intervene.

Raath argued that the police failed in their constitutional and statutory duties, resulting in wrongful and negligent omissions.