Letter: I am horrified

I write in total and utter sadness of what I just read in today’s paper (Rottweilers kill security guard, October 13).

First and foremost, my condolences to the family of the deceased. Secondly, thank you for actually publishing the story to reach the attention of those who care especially about how people’s lives can be treated as a joke due to various reasons but mostly the prevalent one of “skin colour”. Yes, I have just taken it to race even though I would have reacted the same way had it been any other person.

Everything about this matter is beyond preposterous and I am utterly vexed at the way this has been handled by the management of the La Maine stable yard.

The first question is: why are the dogs not kept away from people if they have been noticed to have aggressive behaviour? This was not the first incident of a person being attacked by these dogs.

Secondly, I wonder at these employers who have the audacity to pay the family of the deceased a lousy R5000 to keep this story out of the tabloids. How on earth can one think this can compensate for a life? Maybe they took advantage of the fact that these people are probably poor illiterates who will accept close to nothing as a way of compensation.

He had, as mentioned, dreams like any other human being who wants to prosper. He had a family to take care of and the company that employed him thinks R5000 is enough to actually cover funeral costs, pay for the child’s maintenance and also take care of his family. Whose responsibility is his son supposed to be now?

I am not saying money can ever bring any person’s life back but all I am saying is that this is a pure insult, ungratefulness and utter disrespect for another human being.

HAPPY TAZZ SHELEMBE

Ballito

Letter shortened – Editor.