Ivory Park horse cut up as Christmas meat.
Scores of Ivory Park residents descended on a dead horse yesterday and cut chunks off the animal for their "Christmas meat".
The animal died on Sunday night, apparently as a result of gasterophilus, or botfly, infestation.
Four men slaughtered the horse yesterday, skinning the animal and chopping up meat for residents to take home, while others were seen cleaning the intestines and the heart.
Julian Abrahams, the owner of the house in Ivory Park where the horse was being cut up, invited the community to get there "horse meat for Christmas".
"Christmas came early this year. Thanks to the horse.", happy residents screamed.
Other residents, who watched in shock as the slaughter took place, said it was brutal and inhumane.
"We don't know what killed the horse or if the meat is suitable for human consumption," they said
Abrahams said he had not intended using the dead animal's meat for human consumption.
"I was going to bury the horse because I am not sure if the meat is suitable or not."
He added that he had gone to the homes of people who took the meat and demanded that it be returned.
"If people get sick, I will be blamed. It is a health risk."
Gasterophilus is a genus of parasitic flies, which includes the horse botflies. They lay eggs on horses and donkeys.
Luana Venter, a local veterinarian, said it was essential to do a worming treatment every three months.
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