Dog owner convicted of culpable homicide
Keabetswe Moroane has been convicted of culpable homicide for the death of her neighbour's son (8), who was mauled by her pitbull on 12 November 2024 in Bloemfontein.
The Mercury reports that the incident occurred after the dog broke free from Moroane's home and attacked the child as he played in the garage of his home.
The court's decision came after it was revealed that she had repeatedly ignored growing concerns surrounding the dangerous nature of her dog.
Despite efforts by both herself and concerned neighbours to install fences and wooden poles to keep the animal contained, Moroane's failure to maintain these safety structures directly contributed to the incident.
On the day of the attack, the pitbull escaped and ran into the neighbouring property and attacked the child who died from his severe injuries.
The Bloemfontein Regional Court ruled that Moroane acted negligently, having failed to take reasonable precautions to prevent foreseeable harm given the dog’s aggressive history.
The court highlighted her duty of care to others, saying her inaction had led to the loss of a young life.
Moroane is expected back in court for sentencing on 2 September.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
