THE dragging court case where a young girl was mauled by dogs in Rosettenville two years ago is causing her father, Vusi Khumalo, frustration and anger.
This incident happened on May 25, 2015, and subsequently the then nine-year-old Siyamthanda’s leg was amputated because of the severe injuries.
On that day, Siyamthanda, who lived with her parents as tenants at the landlord’s house, was coming back from school. She opened the gate and locked it behind her. That was when she was allegedly attacked by the landlord’s dogs. She was saved by her neighbour, Mkhululi Nsibande, who jumped the fence and helped the little girl.
The landlord is since out on bail after being arrested for common assault.
“They keep on remanding the case,” says a livid Vusi. “The last time we went there, on February 24, the case was remanded to March 30 because apparently their lawyer did not have enough time to study the case. In this case the magistrates and lawyers keep on changing every time we attend. This causes the case to drag,” he said.
Vusi confirmed that witnesses, a doctor and dog expert presented everything they know about the case. As such, he doesn’t know why there has been no closure yet.
“I always ask for leave from work to attend the court. However, this has become a problem with my employer because every time I go there I expect to come out with something. All I need now is closure. As a family we need to go on with our lives. They must tell us whether they will find the landlord guilty of negligence or whether they will not prosecute.
“By the looks of things, I guess they are looking for a loophole so the case can be struck off the roll.
“They don’t care that the victim, my daughter, lost a leg because of them. Two years down the line, no one has been charged. I have lost faith in the system,” Vusi said.
On the brighter side, Vusi is happy to announce some progress, as the Dis-Chem Foundation is sponsoring a prosthetic leg for Siyamthanda.
He is also pleased with her school progress. Siyamthanda is doing Grade 5 at Verney College, Rosettenville and has just celebrated her 11th birthday, on February 27.
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