The charges against a man (42) who was arrested for culpable homicide after his four dogs mauled his girlfriend to death on his private property were withdrawn.

The charges were withdrawn on Friday (21/6) because there weren't prospects of a successful conviction based on the regulations, said the NPA.

For a matter to be prosecuted, there must have been a crime committed and evidence to this effect. A charge of culpable homicide meant that the State would have to prove negligence on the part of the accused.

‘No prospects of successful prosecution’

“We look at whether the State has a case against the alleged accused, what crime the alleged offender can be charged with, also, is the State able to prove its case against the accused and will the State be able to win the case when presented in court,” said NPA spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane.

"There are no prospects of successful prosecution in this case."

The man appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on Thursday (20/6) after he was arrested. His girlfriend, Nomathemba Kweleta (27), was mauled by his four pit bulls in Namibia Square.

He was arrested on Tuesday (18/6) at around 21:00 under the Animal Matters Amendment Act. The incident happened on Monday afternoon (17/6) and a case of culpable homicide has been registered at the Mangaung Police Station.

“Officers rushed to the scene on Monday (17/6) and found the woman on the ground with severe bite marks. The injuries were mainly to the lower parts of her body,” said Free State police spokesperson, Thabo Covane.

‘The other dog and her six puppies were taken to the local SPCA’

“Officers at the scene had to put down three of the dogs, while the other dog and her six puppies were taken to safety by the local SPCA. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.”

The new Free State Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae extended condolences to Kweleta’s family, noting that the pit bull attack has reignited the debate over the safety of certain dog breeds. She announced plans to implement effective safety measures to prevent such attacks in the future.

After her executive council announcement, she visited the family of Kweleta with Mangaung Metro’s Executive Mayor Gregory Nthatisi.

News24 reports the Mangaung municipal by-laws permit residents to keep dogs on their premises provided they are away from any public places. If in a public place, they must be on a leash and under control.

Should any of these by-laws be broken, the Animal Matters Amendment Act, 1993 (No. 42 of 1993) stipulates that dog owners whose negligence results in an animal injuring another person shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame cg