BillJohn Takawira Magede of Darwendale Farm has been charged with culpable homicide after his two boerbull dogs attacked and killed an infant, Shelton Panganai.
Magede appeared before Banket Magistrate’s Court on 7 August 2025 where he was remanded in custody to 19 August 2025.
It is the state’s case that on 17 July 2025 at around 4pm, four juveniles, imcluding the deceased were playing football at Bonvalley Farm in Darwendale
The accused’s two dogs charged at the group and three juveniles managed to escape unhurt leaving Panganai at the mercy of these animals.
The dogs jumped onto the young child who screamed for help but to no avail
At around 6pm, the deceased’s older brother, Tawanda Panganai, looked for Shelton so that he could bath.
He couldnt find him, so he sent Thinkwell Panganai to look for the child at one of his friends’ place.
The friend, who had escaped the dogs’ attack, stated what had happened to Shelton and a search team dispatched to look for the minor.
The deased was found laying face down in a gumtree plantation.
The matter has been remanded to 19 August 2025 for possible commencement of trial.
What remains outstanding are investigations into conflicting witness statements.
The eyewitnesses, both juveniles aged 6 and 8, gave differing accounts: one reported seeing two dogs—one whitish and the other brown—chasing the deceased, while the other claimed four dogs were involved, without specifying their colours.
Police investigations are still ongoing.
