The Cart Horse Protection Association (CHPA) says it is fully aware of the disturbing video that shows someone violently beating a cart horse — footage that has outraged and shocked communities across Cape Town and beyond. Although CHPA acted swiftly to investigate, it has not yet found the horse or its owner.
“We’re deeply disturbed by the video and share the public’s heartbreak and outrage,” says Karin Paschen, CHPA fundraiser. “Our team mobilised as soon as we were alerted. Unfortunately, it seems fear and panic drove the owner and horse into hiding, which has made it harder to secure the horse’s safety.”
Paschen says CHPA appreciates the public’s concern, but warns that acting outside official channels — including intervening directly or spreading unverified information — can seriously hinder investigations and force suspects further underground.
Witnesses remain silent
“We know emotions are running high,” she says. “But we urge the public to let CHPA handle these cases through proper and effective avenues. We need your eyes, not your intervention.”
As a registered nonprofit with the legal authority to intervene in cases of cart horse cruelty, CHPA has struggled for years to hold perpetrators accountable. “Police rarely prosecute reported cases,” Paschen explains. “Evidence often disappears, documentation goes missing, and cases are bounced between detectives.”
“Nearly all the cases we’ve opened have never seen a day in court. Witnesses are often too afraid to come forward, and even when they do, abusers walk away with minimal fines if anything at all. It’s disheartening,” she says. “We do issue warnings, book horses off the road, and in extreme cases, confiscate them. If we find this particular horse, it will be removed immediately.”
Education and dialogue
CHPA currently operates a Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre in Gordon’s Bay, but space is limited. For this reason, the organisation places a strong emphasis on education and dialogue with horse owners in addition to enforcement.
“Our team is small, and our resources stretched,” Paschen adds. “But we remain committed to standing up for Cape Town’s working horses and we ask that the public stand with us, by doing it the right way.”
“If you witness cruelty or have information about the horse in the video, please get in touch with CHPA directly. You can help save a life — responsibly,” says Paschen.
. Report cruelty confidentially by contacting Duane Marais on 082 656 6599.
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