The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) has confirmed that animal cruelty charges against the owner of Bobby, the malnourished dog whose rescue went viral on TikTok, are progressing in the Boksburg Magistrates’ Court. Bobby’s owner, Mr Elliot Tshigo, faces prosecution under the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962.
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Tshigo first appeared on 25 March 2026, with the matter postponed twice, first to allow him to apply for Legal Aid representation and then for the State to verify any prior convictions. Conviction under the Act carries a maximum penalty of a R40 000 fine or one year’s imprisonment. Bobby was rehabilitated at the Boksburg SPCA after her rescue and has since been adopted into a permanent home. The NSPCA continues to monitor proceedings.
Sources: NSPCA, eNCA, Boksburg Advertiser, The South African
