The mother of a young boy who survived a vicious pit bull attack has shared with Vista how they have struggled as a family since the attack.
Nthabeleng Mokiri says there has been no assistance, or action taken against the owners of the dog.
Her son, Tumelo, was only five years old when he was mauled by a pit bull in 2018. The attack disfigured the one side of his face, ear and mouth.
Nthabeleng lived with her children on a farm at Theunissen at the time of the attack.
“Tumelo was walking to his friends on that fateful day when he was mauled by the dog,” she says.
The property on which the dog stayed had no fence, so it was easy for the dog to chase the child.
The friend’s mother heard Tumelo’s cries and called for help. The owners of the dog came, but the damage had already been done. Tumelo was taken to a hospital in Virginia by the dog owner, as the police and ambulance had yet to arrive.
The injuries were critical, so Tumelo was then taken to Bloemfontein. The dog owner gave Nthabeleng money to hike from Theunissen to Bloemfontein. That was the last time she heard from the owner, who now lives in America.
Tumelo stayed in hospital for three months. His mother had to leave her job to care for her child.
She reached out to the farm owner and his son, but has received no assistance from them.
“I am the bread winner, and I live with my two children. I need financial assistance from the dog owners to take my son to a private hospital to get help with his face.”
Nthabeleng says Tumelo is trying to cope at school.
“They have become used to him, but he does not go on school trips as he fears other children will be mean to him. He does not play with other children like he used to because children say mean things to him. He is not coping after the incident,” she says.
Nthabeleng wants justice for her child and assistance for her child with his injuries.
