PORT ELIZABETH, January 20, (ANA) – The directors/owners of the well-known Brian Boswell's Circus and an employee appeared in the Port Elizabeth magistrate’s court on Wednesday on charges which relate to the contravention of the Animal Protection Act 71 of 1962.
Jane Boswell, her daughter Georgina and elephant handler David Marais are facing a string of charges for allegedly beating, chaining, confining and not providing sufficient water and shade to elephants between December 2012 and January 2013.
During 2013, the National Council of SPCA’s laid criminal charges against the Boswell for the alleged abuse of elephants at Walmer West Primary School in Port Elizabeth.
The school later withdrew permission for the circus to use its grounds.
Video footage which aired on Carte Blanche during 2013 showed elephants chained and exposed to heat for hours and beaten with sticks.
A source close to the case told ANA that four elephant handlers seen on the video footage were apparently fired and have since disappeared.
All three accused are out on warning and will appear back in court on February 17.
-African News Agency (ANA)
