BETHAL – Messrs Trevor Friedman (45), a farmer, and Paul Makgado (53), a worker, (53) briefly appeared in the Bethal Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 4 April.
They are facing assault charges after a dog in their care allegedly attacked a 62-year-old woman and a 14-year-old boy in separate incidents on a farm near Bethal recently.
In the first incident, Ms Maria Vilakazi and a friend were harvesting green leaves on the farm when the farmer and his assistant drove past with the dog on the back of the bakkie.
The dog apparently jumped off the bakkie and attacked the two women.
Ms Vilakazi’s friend managed to flee, but Ms Vilakazi was cornered by the dog that bit her on her arm, on the back and on her legs.
The farmer and his worker took the dog and apparently left Ms Vilakazi on the scene.
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Her friend took her home and summoned an ambulance.
Ms Vilakazi was admitted to Bethal Hospital on 10 January.
In another incident, the boy was locking the cattle in the kraal when the same dog attacked him on the same farm on Sunday, 14 January.
He suffered serious injuries to the arm, legs and buttocks and was taken to Bethal Hospital. He was released on the same day.
Members from the Economic Freedom Fighters and the ANC were in court to support the victims.
The case was postponed to 11 April, because the court is waiting for the report from the senior public prosecutor.
