The police are investigating after a man was mauled to death and another attacked by three Rottweiler dogs in Bonita Park, Hartswater.
THE HARTSWATER police are investigating after a man was mauled to death and another attacked by three Rottweiler dogs in Bonita Park, Hartswater.
The police confirmed that they are investigating a case of negligently allowing/failure to prevent an animal to cause injury to another person following the incident on May 27.
The dogs reportedly ran through an open gate and attacked the two victims, before dragging one of them, Lenard Klaas Julies, 78, into the yard where they “tore his body apart”.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock said the incident happened at about 7pm.
“It is alleged that two male pedestrians were attacked by three Rottweilers in Erasmus Street, Hartswater. The 78-year-old male died on the scene while the other adult male is still in hospital receiving medical treatment,” said Kock.
He added that the SPCA intervened and removed the dogs from the premises.
Julies was buried on June 2 by his traumatised family.
The family want the owner of the dogs to be charged and for him to pay for the damage caused by his alleged negligence.
They want to know why the gate was left open and why the owner kept such “vicious” dogs on a busy main road.
Julies’ brother-in-law, Frans Brand, said that taking the dogs away from the owner is not justice enough for the family and the community.
Brand said the incident was not only traumatic for the family, but also to the community because the deceased was well-known in his home town.
He said the community was up in arms after the incident and wanted to forcefully enter the yard and kill the dogs.
The owner of the dogs is a well-known businessman in Hartswater.
Brand shed a tear when he described the horrible scene he witnessed after the attack.
“I rushed to the scene and found the street full of angry people, who were threatening to storm the house,” said Brand.
“Upon arrival, I saw his naked, uncovered body lying in the yard between two trucks, covered in a pool of blood. His body was badly torn and his pants were lying further away. There was so much blood and his body was torn everywhere. His hands looked like they were dipped in red paint. I was advised not to look at his face because it was badly torn.
“His cap was found across the street, where the dogs had started tearing into him before he was dragged into the yard. His sneaker was also found outside the yard.
“Those are not dogs but monsters.
“The road where the victims were attacked is very busy and used by pedestrians. The attack happened during peak time, when people were returning from work in town. That is what angered the community.”
Julies’ family said they are angry because the owner of the dogs never showed any remorse and did not engage with them after the incident.
They added that they are not getting updates from the police.
Brand said they were further perturbed by the claim of an eyewitness, who went to fetch the police, that there were people inside the house who failed to go out and stop the dogs when they were attacking the deceased.
“I saw the owner talking to the police but no one said anything to me. It is so sad to learn that the other victim was also bitten by the dogs when he tried to stop them from attacking my brother.
“Another witness, who fled into a tree when he saw the vicious dogs attack, told us that the hospitalised man picked up a stone and threw it at them to try and save my brother, when the dogs turned on him.
“That is how he witnessed everything, from a tree.”
Brand said they have been robbed of a “beautiful soul”.
“He (Julies) was looking good for his age because he was able to walk to and from town on a daily basis. But he did not have the strength to fight off the three vicious dogs at his age.
“He was well known as ‘Oom Kettie’ throughout Hartswater. Everyone knew him through his sense of humour,” sobbed Brand.
“Our biggest question is why the people inside the house failed to do something or even open the door when the witness banged on the gate?”
The SPCA confirmed that the dogs were removed by them, but could not comment further as their spokesperson was on leave.
Efforts to get comment from the dogs’ owner were unsuccessful.
The DFA was also not able to get comment from the other victim’s family.
Anyone with information regarding the matter is urged to contact Detective Constable Dintle More on 083 899 1589.
