Broadlands Manor owner Willie van der Westhuizen, who was arrested after a teenage boy from Sir Lowry’s Pass was attacked by his dogs, found himself back in the dock at the Somerset West Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 14 October.

According to the Somerset West police, Van der Westhuizen was arrested on Monday 12 October, and a case of attempted murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm is being investigated following the incident and another alleged dog attack some days prior.

Dog attack

The latest incident occurred on Wednesday 7 October when 14-year-old Christiano Jansen and a group of friends were allegedly playing near the Broadlands Manor property around 18:00.

Emergency services personnel, including firefighting crews from Sir Lowry’s Pass Fire Station, were dispatched following an emergency call at 18:30. The boy’s condition was critical due to severe bite wounds, and he was transported to a nearby medical facility via ambulance just after 19:00.

Contrasting claims

In an interview with DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette prior to his arrest, Van der Westhuizen claimed that the incident was simply unfortunate and expressed remorse for what had happened.

But later the police said: “It is alleged that the minor was among a group of friends when the [suspect] incited his dogs on the minor and his friends. It is believed that his friends managed to run away but the boy fell and the dogs attacked him. The minor sustained serious injuries and was transferred to Tygerberg Hospital for medical assistance.”

Van der Westhuizen claimed he was walking his two young Rottweilers off-leash on the 36 ha property when he spotted five or six boys at the dam about 80 to 100 m away. The boys allegedly started running, and the dogs chased them, with the male dog pinning one boy down and the bitch also pouncing before Van der Westhuizen managed to pull both off. He stressed that he left the scene only to take the dogs home and away from the area – not out of any lack of concern. Van der Westhuizen said he reached out to the boy’s family and implored for him to be moved from Helderberg Hospital to Mediclinic Vergelegen, eventually offering to cover ambulance costs for the transfer to Tygerberg.

While the family were not initially aware of what had happened, Christiano’s mother, Emma Jansen (41) said the group of friends recalled playing at a dam and near a waterway before the attack.

It was initially reported that the incident occurred on the Broadlands Manor property, but community members allege the attack transpired on adjacent property.

Court appearance

Van der Westhuizen made his first court appearance on Tuesday 13 October. The case resumed for formal bail application on Wednesday morning and was postponed until Friday 16 October. He remains in custody.

Community members engaged in a peaceful protest outside the court in Caledon Street, wielding placards and chanting against bail.

“We seek justice because the man who set the dogs on the children must speak the truth. They were swimming in the dam on land that belongs to the City of Cape Town. He walked with his dogs, fair enough, but he also let the dogs charge the children. We want the truth to prevail because this is not the first incident; there is a similar incident. He must stay in prison. Justice must be served for the teenage boy. He is a danger to the community with his animals,” said one of the protesters.

Christiano is recovering in hospital after successful surgery on Friday 9 October, lasting several hours after he sustained bleeding on the brain, facial fractures and wounds to the body.