An elderly woman was seriously injured after she was attacked by five dogs in her neighbourhood while walking home from church.
Dideka Njovane (60) was viciously attacked by her neighbour’s dogs as she walked along L Street in Tantyi
township on the evening of 13 January.
An elderly woman was seriously injured after she was attacked by five dogs in her neighbourhood while walking home from church.
Dideka Njovane (60) was viciously attacked by her neighbour’s dogs as she walked along L Street in Tantyi
township on the evening of 13 January.
“I use that route almost every day when I go to work. Those dogs always sit at the entrance barking at people. It was my unlucky day that Wednesday evening,” said Njovane with tears in her eyes.
“One dog started barking at me, it ran towards me and started biting me in the legs, others followed. I fell on the ground and started screaming as the dogs bit me all over my body. I was in so much pain.
Then a teenage boy appeared and chased them away. Even now I am still in pain. I went to Settlers Hospital the following day and the doctor gave me painkillers.”
Njovane reported the incident to the local police station. Grocott’s Mail visited the owner of the dogs, Qaqambile Potulo this week but he stayed inside his house, refusing to come out to be interviewed.
However a woman who wishes to remain anonymous gave reporters his contact number, saying that it was best to call him later. However, this turned out to be the wrong number.
The anonymous woman insisted that the dogs are not vicious and that no one has ever complained about them. “These dogs are here all the time, even now they were sitting near the gate but they do not attack anyone,” she said.
When Grocott’s Mail asked her to call the dogs, a pack of seven appeared but quickly ran to the backyard.
One of Njovane’s neighbours who preferred anonymity said she could attest to the fact that the dogs are indeed vicious. “Some time ago they attacked a family friend who was attending a traditional ceremony at Qaqambile’s house. Everyone is scared of those dogs, they always sit near the entrance barking at passersby.”
Police spokesperson Inspector Sherolene Williams said a case under the stock theft act has been opened.
She said a decision on whether the owner would be charged in connection with the incident would be made at the Grahams- town Magistrate’s Court.
