The second man allegedly involved in the brutal killing of Benji the pit bull has been arrested nearly a year after the incident.
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA says following an “intense investigation”, Khayelitsha cops nabbed Mibongo Siyokwane, who appeared at the Khayelitsha Magistrates’ Court alongside his co-accused, Sihle Mbambo on Thursday.
Mbambo was arrested soon after the incident in May last year.
The matter was postponed to 16 April for Siyokwane to find a lawyer and for his formal bail application.
SPCA spokesperson, Belinda Abraham, says their inspector, Siviwe Noko, has been working around the clock to track down the second suspect.
A reward of R6 000 was also offered for information leading to the arrest of the second suspect.
A video showed two men stabbing Benji to death after the animal allegedly attacked a child in Khayelitsha.
The second man can be seen holding the dog down as Mbambo allegedly stomped on it.
The video has been handed in as evidence to the court.
“Eleven months after the fact and after a large scale manhunt, that included the offering of a reward, the second accused in the violent and fatal stabbing of the beloved companion, Benji, was arrested on 10 April,” says Abraham.
She says Mbambo’s trial was supposed to start last week, but the two will now be tried together.
She thanked the public who have submitted affidavits in support of “the harshest possible penalty” for this crime, those who have provided information leading to the arrests, and commended SPCA Inspector Siviwe Noko for his “commitment and dedication in the pursuit of justice for Benji”.