Germiston, Johannesburg – A tragic incident has left the residents of the Marathon informal settlement reeling in shock and horror after a three-year-old girl, Sibongakonke Hoyisana, was viciously attacked and killed by a pack of dogs. The gruesome event unfolded on Friday, July 3, 2025, while the child was walking through the settlement.
Eyewitnesses say the toddler was alone when the dogs pounced on her. Despite the desperate efforts of nearby residents to save her, the attack was relentless. Sixty-five-year-old Joseph Mlangeni, a local resident, was among the first to witness the horrifying scene.
“I heard screaming and rushed out to find the dogs tearing into the child’s body right outside my home,” Mlangeni said, visibly shaken. “I tried to chase them away, but they wouldn’t stop. It was only when other people came and threw stones at the dogs that they finally let go.”
The aftermath was heartbreaking. Sibongakonke lay bloodied and critically injured, and unfortunately, her injuries proved fatal. The community is now grappling with grief, anger, and fear as they come to terms with the tragedy.
“This has left me traumatised,” Mlangeni continued. “I’ve seen dogs bite people before, but I have never seen them behave like wild animals—eating someone like that. I couldn’t sleep that night. The image keeps replaying in my mind.”
Other residents who witnessed the brutal attack shared similar sentiments. Many described it as one of the most horrific things they had ever seen. Several have demanded that all stray or aggressive dogs in the area be removed or put down to prevent another tragedy.
The incident has reignited concerns about animal control and safety in informal settlements, where stray dogs are often left to roam freely and where proper fencing and pet regulations are difficult to enforce. Community leaders have since called on the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality to intervene by launching immediate investigations and removing dangerous animals from the area.
Children in particular are seen as vulnerable, and some parents in the community say they now fear letting their kids outside to play. “We are not safe. Our children are not safe,” one mother said. “We want action before another innocent life is lost.”
As news of Sibongakonke’s death spread across social media and local media outlets, tributes poured in from sympathisers who expressed outrage and heartbreak over the young life lost so violently.
At the time of writing, local authorities had not yet confirmed whether the dogs belonged to someone or were strays. However, community members insist that stricter animal control measures are urgently needed to ensure the safety of residents.
The Hoyisana family is now left mourning a child whose life was taken far too soon. The community, meanwhile, remains united in their grief and their calls for justice and safety reforms.