NOW undergoing surgery and therapy, a woman (47) is regaining her confidence after her life drastically changed when she was allegedly mauled by her bosses' three pitbulls in Potchefstroom, North West in January 2022.
The dogs ripped off Dipuo Kokolosi's nose and lips and bit her ears and other parts of her body.
Dipuo told Daily Sun that everything happened so fast and she was rescued by her bosses' neighbours and the dogs were shot by one of the neighbours in self-defense.
Speaking from her home in Bloemhof, Dipuo said that she doesn't recall what happened on that fateful day.
"I remember waking up confused I asked where I was and social workers came and spoke to me. They told me that I'm in hospital," she said.
Dipuo said she had to spend three months in hospital due to the intense damage that the dogs had caused on her face.
ALSO READ | PASOP! Tsotsis use this new method to hijack cars!Opens in new window
"Ever since I was attacked by the dogs, I haven't seen my employers. Since this ordeal, my grandchildren and the children in the street fear me. I always cover up my face in public, especially when I go to town. Everywhere I go, people always stare at me, and start talking about me. These things hurt me so much," she said.
She told Daily Sun that her husband died in 2014 and since she's unable to work, she now depends on her family to survive and to go to the clinic for her regular check-ups.
"I go for my check-ups once or twice in a month, depending on what the doctors say," said Dipuo.
She said that the regular visits to the hospital have drained her financially and she has to resort to borrowing money from abomashonisa, adding that with the court case coming, she is already stressed with having more expenditure.
Dipuo's father, Sehularo Kokolosi (73), told Daily Sun that he's heartbroken about what happened to his daughter.
"My daughter was born like any other human being. It's unfortunate that she was attacked by those dogs. All I want is for her employers to reimburse her for the pain and damage their dogs caused her," he said.
Dipuo's younger brother, Joseph Modise (44) recalled the day his sister was attacked by the vicious dogs.
"We received a call from her bosses' neighbours telling us that Dipuo has been attacked by pitbulls. They told us that they're not sure if she is still alive.
"It was difficult for us to accept the situation after seeing her at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. Now our wish is for the surgeons help fix her nose and lips so she can go back to her normal state of appearance," said Joseph.
He said that he is however grateful that the doctors were able to restructure her face through the operations.
Dipuo is taking her journey to healing one step at a time and remains hopeful that she'll one day be able to walk freely without worrying about what people think of her.
The owners of three pitbulls are expected to make their first appearance in the Potchefstroom Magistrates Court on 6 July 2023.
"I'm glad that after a year and months of waiting, the case will finally stand," said Dipuo.
Colonel Adele Myburgh said that the case was placed on the court roll.
