Group wants tough action against women who set allegedly dogs on their niece

26 September 2016 - 15:08 By Nomahlubi Jordaan

An organisation that fights for the rights of women and children wants to see justice done in the case of a 16-year-old teenager who was allegedly attacked by her aunts‚ who also set a family dog on her‚ last month. The girl suffered injuries to her face and abdomen from bites in the assault‚ which also reportedly involved her half-sister‚ in Alexandra on August 8.The women‚ who are aged between 30 and 50 and who have appeared in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court and were released on bail‚ are due back in court next month.“The case highlights the level of hostility that exists in complex family dynamics‚ where you don’t have a nuclear family. Women are supposed to protect children and not abuse them‚ said Women and Men against Child Abuse spokesperson Ngaatendweishe Murombezi.Murombezi said the organisation wants to find out why the family members assaulted the teenager. “You don’t just have someone set a dog on you for no reason. There must be an underlying issue.She said the organisation wanted to see a strong sanction issued against them: “We are hoping to see the women prosecuted and not just let go with a slap in the wrist. They have to be taken to account.“The incident could have gone worse. It could have ended up fatally.” She said the case was the first they have dealt with in which an animal was used to attack someone. ..

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