Free State pit bull owner charged after toddler’s death
Keketso Saul was on Sunday attacked and killed by two pit bulls. One of the dogs was then reportedly set alight by residents.
The owner of two pit bulls, that on Sunday mauled a three-year-old boy, to death in the Free State, has been charged in accordance with the Animal Matters Amendment Act, 1993, which provides directions in respect of injuries caused by animals and the consequences of keeping vicious dogs.
The 21-year-old Lebohang Pali was arrested on Monday morning. He appeared in court later and was granted R300 bail.
His case was postponed to tomorrow.
According to the provincial police spokesperson, Stephen Thakeng, Pali was arrested and charged according to the act after his two dogs allegedly attacked and killed the three-year-old Keketso Saul.
Thakeng says the 21-year-old man was rescued from the scene after a group of angry residents from Sekoti Mpate Phomolong in Hennenman outside Welkom wanted to attack him. This, after one of the dogs was hit and burned to death by angry community members while the other dog was taken away by the SPCA.
On Monday, the Free State Health MEC, Montseng Tsiu, added her voice to the growing national calls for pit bulls – perceived to be bloodthirsty – to be removed from communities.
The deputy mayor of Mangaung, Mapaseka Nkoane-Mothibi, said as of January 2023, the city would require dog owners to have a licence and also to have some form of training to be the owner of any dog. Nkoane Mothibi said this during the funeral of eight-year-old Olebogeng Mosime who was also mauled by their neighbour’s pit bull at his home in Vista Park.
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