Puppy-loving toddler (3) mauled to death by dogs
Sibongakonke Hosiyana was killed by a group of dogs on Friday last week while walking through the Marathon informal settlement in Germiston.
Sibongakonke Hosiyana was killed by a group of dogs on Friday last week while walking through the Marathon informal settlement in Germiston. Picture credit: Supplied
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JOHANNESBURG - A three-year-old child who was mauled to death by dogs has been described as a quiet toddler who enjoyed playing with puppies.
Sibongakonke Hosiyana was killed by a group of dogs on Friday last week while walking through the Marathon informal settlement in Germiston.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, which is now calling for the removal of all dogs in the area.
Hosiyana has been described as a quiet, shy child who did not play a lot with the other kids in the settlement.
Family Spokesperson - Nurse Mnisi said her face used to light up when she was around puppies.
“One of the dogs that bit the child recently gave birth. I think she may have been playing with the puppies, because she loves them, and the mother came and attacked her.”
Mnisi said the gruesome nature of the toddler's death still traumatises her.
“The way Sibonga was so quiet, I don’t think the people in this passage would have heard her screaming because she never had that loud crying voice like all children.”
A police inquest has been opened into the death.
COMMUNITY REACTS
The Marathon informal settlement community in Germiston wants all dogs removed from the area after the gruesome killing of a three-year-old child.
The angry community claims that some of the dogs are still roaming the area.
Ekurhuleni’s ward 93 councillor, Geoffrey Mthembu, said he has been in touch with the SPCA on the matter.
“One is to also say to them how are we going to vaccinate their dogs and also to check if those who are also no longer in need of their pets – they must go and take them back to SPCA [Society for the Prevention of Cruelty] to Animals]. The sooner we do that, the better.”