Durban - The family of a man mauled to death by dogs in Chesterville, Durban, say that the dog owners’ failure to take responsibility for the attack makes it difficult to come to terms with their loss.
Bhekani Biyela, 43, died after being attacked by a pack of dogs in the early hours of Sunday while making his way home from the local tavern.
A witness who did not want to be named told of the what she witnessed when she peeped through her window during the attack.
“I was deep in my sleep then I heard someone screaming outside, but because there is a place for drinking in the area, I was under the impression that it was one of them. But, the crying grew louder. I woke up and looked through the kitchen window and saw someone being pulled by a few dogs in our yard,” she said.
The witness said that though she was not able to make out the breed or the number of dogs, she was certain that it was more than five dogs.
Sinenhlanhla Zuma, Biyela’s nephew, said he rushed to the scene of the incident after receiving a call from the neighbour who saw the attack.
He said that when he arrived, his uncle was almost naked as his clothes were ripped off by the dogs during the ordeal.
Zuma rushed his uncle to hospital, where he was immediately admitted.
“I left for a short while to get some of his belongings at home and when I got back the doctors informed me that my uncle did not survive the attack due to the extent of his injuries,” he said, almost tearing up.
He said that though he did not see the dogs, most people he had spoken to indicated that they had seen dogs from neighbouring houses, including a pit bull.
“It really hurts that my uncle’s life was taken in such a manner and no one wants to take responsibility for it. We just want justice to prevail. I want my uncle to be buried with dignity, and the justice system must take its course,” he said.
He said that the date for the funeral was yet to be determined as the family was struggling to pay for the burial.
Thandeka Ndaba, 32, an owner of one of the dogs alleged to have been involved in the incident, said that she found it hard to believe that her pet was capable of killing someone but sympathised with the family.
“Our dog is white, therefore it would have been visible from blood stains on its body, had it been involved. The police officer who was here also attested to this as they saw the dog,” she said.
She said that her dogs had since been taken to the SPCA.
Thembelani Dlamini, 34, owner of the pit bull also alleged to have been involved in the incident, said that he does not accept nor deny responsibility on the part of his dogs.
“I have four dogs. The black ones that are able to go out of the yard are a mixed breed. The pit bull had recently given birth and has pups. From the day that it gave birth, which was on Wednesday, it was kept in a cage to avoid it getting mixed with the others and it is too big to be able to leave the yard,” said the owner.
He said that he has also moved his dogs.
Lesley O’brien, an animal behaviourist from Morningside K9 Academy said that there were various factors that caused dogs to attack people, including how they were raised, their parentage and their encounters through their upbringing.
She said that proper management and training of dogs was imperative for every owner.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshuinda confirmed the incident, and that an inquest docket had been opened.
The eThekwini spokesperson, Msawakhe Mayisela said that they sympathised with the family, and added that the law should take its course.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE