Leg of the girl (9) mauled by dogs amputated
''I took a branch of a tree and a hammer, jumped the fence and rescued the girl.” - Witness.
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – A grade four learner from WH Coetzer Primary School was mauled by two dogs, when she returned home from school on Monday, May 25.
Due to the severity of the attack, Siyathanda Bokamela’s leg was amputated on Sunday, May 31.
Const Rebecca Bila, Moffatview Police spokesperson, confirmed that the landlord where the dogs attacked the girl was arrested on Monday, June 1, but was then released on bail, as she has a one-month-old baby.
She appeared in court on June 3 and the investigating officer said the docket was placed on the court roll.
Siyatanda’s father, Vusi Khumalo, told the COURIER that they were the tenants at the house in Lang Street, Rosettenville.
“When my daughter came home, she opened the gate and then locked it; that’s when the dogs attacked her,” he said.
”My daughter is in theatre, her leg was amputated and I’m being told her kidneys are failing.”
He said people watched the attack helplessly, as they were too scared to help. However, one brave man, Mkhululi Nsibande, who is a neighbour, jumped the fence and helped the little girl.
When the COURIER contacted Mkhululi, he said: “I couldn’t stand there and watch her being attacked by these dogs. While I was outside I spotted a police van and I asked them to help, but they were too scared to go into the property.
”I took a branch of a tree and a hammer, jumped the fence and rescued the girl.”
The little girl spent more than a week in ICU at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.
The father has since moved out the house they were renting.
“The landlord must be arrested, what happened to my child is painful. Justice must take its course,” he said.
