The woman who allegedly threw her dog from the third-floor balcony at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg has died.
The incident which took place in November 2024 caused public outrage.
The dog sustained serious injuries and had to be euthanized.
Speaking to IOL this week, Jacques Peacock, spokesperson for The National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) said the woman died a few days after the incident.
Peacock said a case of animal cruelty was opened for investigation at the South African Police Services (SAPS).
"According to information received by us, the woman died on 25 November 2024 in Thembisa Hospital following reports of her suffering from mental illness."
According to the NSPCA the French woman had traveled from France to Johannesburg, on her way to Brazil.
After purchasing a ticket for the extra "passenger" she boarded the plane with her dog and arrived in South Africa on November 6, 2024.
The NSPCA said that video footage from the Airport Company South Africa (ACSA) showed the woman strolling through the Atrium at OR Tambo International Airport, with her small black dog running freely.
The woman then picked up the dog and threw it over the balcony.
She could not board her flight to Brazil and police confirmed that she was taken to a medical facility.
IOL News