Dog attack case on hold

2005-11-01 11:48

Sizwe samaYende

Naboomspruit - A civil claim in which a 68-year-old Limpopo man is seeking compensation after being mauled by a farmer's bull terriers for three hours has been delayed.

Solomon Koka's claim was scheduled to start in Pretoria High Court on Tuesday but was delayed because a medical report arrived late.

Koka is claiming for future medical costs, pain, suffering and discomfort against farmer Frederik Geyser of Weltevreden farm near Naboomspruit.

The three bull terriers attacked Koka on New Year's Day 2001 while he was trying to feed them.

Geyser and his family were at church at the time.

Koka said he didn't know there were three new dogs in the pen, in addition to the seven he normally fed.

His one leg was amputated and may lose the other to gangrene. He is wheelchair-bound.

Not guilty on criminal charges of negligence

Koka's lawyer from the Wits Law Clinic, Thelvi Mmako, said he and Geyser's legal representative were also considering settling the matter out of court. "There's a possibility of settling out of court, but if we don't reach a settlement, we'll apply for another court date," he said.

Koka's younger brother, Pona, has been trying to help his brother over the past four years.

Geyser got off scot-free on criminal charges of negligence after a regional senior prosecutor declined to prosecute because of lack of evidence.

Pona then lodged a complaint with the Independent Complaints Directorate, which also failed to help him.

Pona complained to the media as a final resort in March 2002.

The South African Human Rights Commission reacted by asking the Wits Law Clinic to act on Koka's behalf.

Pona was forced to quit his job at a local cash loans company to care for his brother full-time.

- African Eye