Lebohang Pali (21) was arrested on Monday morning. He appeared in court later and was granted R300 bail. His case was postponed to 23 November 2022. According to the provincial police spokesperson, Stephen Thakeng, Pali was arrested and charged according to the Animals Amendment Act - keeping of vicious dogs - after his two dogs attacked and killed Keketso Saul.

ALSO READ: Residents kill Pit Bull that mauled child to death

Thakeng said the dog owner was rescued from the scene after a group of angry residents from Sekoti Mpate Phomolong in Hennenman wanted to attack him. This, after one of the dogs was hit and burned to death by angry community members while the other dog was taken away by the SPCA.

ALSO READ: Pit Bull owner rescued from angry Free State residents

On Monday, the Free State Health MEC, Montseng Tsiu, added her voice to the growing national calls for aggressive pit bulls to be removed from communities. 

The deputy mayor of Mangaung Metro Municipality, Mapaseka Nkoane-Mothibi, said as of January 2023, the city would require dog owners to have a licence and also to have some form of training to be the owner of any dog. Nkoane Mothibi said this during the funeral of the 8-year-old Olebogeng Mosime who was also mauled by the neighbour’s pit bulls at his home in Vista Park.

ALSO READ: No one will own a dog without a licence from January 2023

OFM News