Pitbull owner charged with culpable homicide and animal cruelty

The owner of two pitbulls that mauled three-year-old Keketso Saule to death has been charged with culpable homicide and cruelty to animals. 

Lebohang Pali made his second appearance in the Henneman Magistrate Court in Free State on Wednesday, 23 November. 

PITBULL OWNER FACING TWO CHARGES

In his first court appearance the 21-year-old Pitbull owner was granted R300 bail and was charged for violating the law relating to the keeping of vicious dogs. This after an inquest docket was opened for further investigation..

As previously reported, three-year-old Keketso Saule was reportedly bitten by the dogs in his neighbour’s yard in Sekoti-mpate in Hennenman in the Free State on Sunday morning, 20 November 2022.

According to South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Captain Stephen Thakeng said on arrival at the scene they found a large group of community members already outside the yard. 

The three-year-old boy was certified dead at the scene with severe injuries to the head. 

Thakeng said the dog was removed by its owner from the scene where the incident took place, but eventually was burned to death by the angry community.

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Public Order Policing unit members were then deployed to the area as the situation was tense. 

The owner of the Pitbulls was also reportedly whisked away by police for his safety after the community threatened to take action against him. 

The second Pitbull was reportedly taken by the SPCA for safekeeping. 

Hennenman police have since opened an inquest for further investigation.

The incident happened just days after eight-year-old Olebogeng Mosime was also mauled to death by a neighbour’s Pitbull in Vista Park, Bloemfontein.

In another incident, three Pitbulls were reportedly stoned, stabbed and burnt to death by community members after they allegedly attacked a minor in a Gatesville field.

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