10/09/2026
Justice for Sky. Please people USE YOUR VOICE, demand justice for sky and advocate to have every dog removed from South African Police Service
44 HOURS LATER: WHERE IS SKY’S INVESTIGATION?
At 12:00 on Tuesday, I opened a criminal case concerning the injuries that led to Sky’s death. It is now 08:00 on Thursday morning, approximately 44 hours later, and I have still not been told who the investigating officer is.
If a human police member had died under suspicious circumstances, would SAPS have waited 44 hours to begin a proper criminal investigation?
It now appears that the docket was incorrectly registered at Pretoria Central SAPS rather than Kameeldrift SAPS, which appears to have jurisdiction over the Roodeplaat facility.
SAPS must explain how this happened, where the docket is currently located, who the investigating officer is and what investigative steps have been taken. Administrative confusion cannot be allowed to delay the preservation of evidence or the criminal investigation.
I have formally requested that IPID consider conducting an independent investigation. This criminal case cannot be delayed or made dependent on SAPS’s internal inquiry.
I have also written to Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane requesting the immediate identification of the investigating officer, confirmation that all evidence has been secured and details of the precautionary action taken against implicated officials.
At present, I have received no confirmation that anyone has been suspended, reassigned or removed from animal-care or supervisory duties.
Why are officials whose decisions or omissions may have contributed to Sky’s death apparently still permitted to work with, supervise or make decisions about other animals? Why do they potentially retain access to witnesses, records, CCTV footage and other evidence?
Precautionary suspension or reassignment is not a finding of guilt. It is a necessary protective measure while the facts are established. It protects the remaining animals, witnesses and evidence.
These photographs show the small indoor kennels where Sky was confined for approximately 18 hours every day (The dog in the one kennel is NOT Sky, but look at those eyes). SAPS’s own veterinary certificate recorded that she suffered from severe kennel stress and separation anxiety, repeatedly injured herself and could not remain in the SAPS environment without compromising her welfare.
Members reportedly requested that Sky be allowed to stay at a suitable home while the administrative process was completed. That request was allegedly not escalated, while the process dragged on for months.
Sky was eventually found with catastrophic injuries to both front legs. Her tissue was dying, her muscles were breaking down and organ failure was suspected. She was euthanised to end her suffering.
The South African Veterinary Council has acknowledged receipt of my complaint. The NSPCA is understood to be investigating, and Onderstepoort is expected to conduct a clinician-led post-mortem examination.
General Dimpane’s intervention is welcome, and she has my support in taking decisive action. However, an internal inquiry cannot replace an immediate, properly registered and independent criminal investigation.
SAPS must urgently correct the handling of this docket, remove implicated officials from animal care pending the investigation and account for every remaining animal at Roodeplaat. IC
