Couple sets dogs on herd boys, court told

Sunday, 27 March 2011 22:45
By Thupeyo Muleya
TWO white commercial farmers from Makhado Ranch, some 80 km west of Beitbridge town, have been dragged to court for assaulting and setting dogs on two herd boys they found looking for stray donkeys in their ranch.
George Watson (30) and his wife Elaine Du Plooy (25) are being jointly charged with assaulting the teenagers aged 14 and 19 years.
The couple is however, denying the charges.
They were both remanded out of custody to April 15 for judgment.
Beitbridge resident magistrate, Miss Gloria Takundwa presided over the matter.
Prosecutor Mr Foster Abheki told the court that on August 27 last year, the two boys went to Makhado Ranch to look for their stray donkeys.
He said when they were near Magumazi Dam in the ranch, they were spotted by Du Plooy who in turn summoned her dogs.
She then set the dogs on the boys.
As the boys tried to flee from the vicious dogs, Watson rushed to the scene where his wife grabbed one of the boys and pinned him down to stop him from restraining the dogs which were attacking the 14-year-old boy.
The 14-year-old boy sustained severe injuries on the head and buttocks.
The matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest of Watson and Du Plooy.
The injured boy was then taken to Beitbridge District Hospital after three days for treatment.
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