Broadlands Manor owner Willie van der Westhuizen, who was arrested on a charge of attempted murder after a teenage boy from Sir Lowry’s Pass was mauled by his dogs, was granted bail of R5 000.

The 59-year-old was back in the dock at the Somerset West Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 21 October.

Dog attack

The 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, including firefighting crews from Sir Lowry’s Pass Fire Station, were dispatched after an emergency call at 18:30. Christiano’s condition was critical due to severe bite wounds, and he was transported to a nearby medical facility via ambulance after 19:00. He was later transferred to Tygerberg Hospital for further medical care.

ALSO READ: Teen critical after dog attack on Sir Lowry’s Pass farm

Christiano is recovering after successful surgery on Friday 9 October, lasting several hours, to treat bleeding on the brain, facial fractures and wounds to the body. He has since been discharged and is doing well.

Contrasting claims

In an interview with DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette before his arrest, Van der Westhuizen described the incident as unfortunate and expressed remorse. He said 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 the teen. 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 the ambulance costs for the transfer to Tygerberg Hospital.

However, police said a starkly different account of what allegedly transpired, led to Van der Westhuizen’s arrest. “It is alleged that the minor was among a group of friends when the [suspect] incited his dogs on the minor and his friends,” police said. “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.”

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

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

ALSO READ: Arrest after dog attack on Sir Lowry’s Pass teenager

Court appearance

Van der Westhuizen was arrested on Monday 12 October. A case of attempted murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm is being investigated, following the attack on Christiano and another alleged dog attack some days earlier.

He made his first court appearance on Tuesday 13 October. The case resumed for a formal bail application on Wednesday 14 October, was postponed to Friday 16 October, and again until Wednesday 21 October, when he was released on R5 000 bail.

ALSO READ: Broadlands Manor owner in court after dogs maul Sir Lowry’s Pass teen

Community members gathered outside the court in Caledon Street for a peaceful protest at the last two appearances, wielding placards and chanting against bail.

Sir Lowry’s Pass activist Ronel Paulse, with support from the Vroue in Aksie movement, submitted a petition bearing 1 200 signatures to the court during Van der Westhuizen’s appearance on Friday 16 October. The court accepted the document.

Paulse expressed the community’s collective disappointment at bail being granted, but remained hopeful that justice would be served. “The case remains ongoing and this is not the end,” she said.

The case has been postponed until Thursday 10 December.