A vicious dog went on the rampage and injured 16 community members at Thohoyandou Unit C last week. The injured victims were rushed Tshilidzini Hospital and two local clinics for treatment. The dog has also injured several other dogs and cats belonging to local community members.

Community members say the dog was very aggressive and it moved around with its mouth wide open, prepared to prey on everyone it came across.

One of the victims, who sustained leg injuries after the attack by the dog, Thifhatelwi Mphephu (19), said: "I was walking from Thohoyandou Town when I saw this black and white dog charging in my direction. At first I did not take it seriously but I was shocked when it started barking while coming to me as if I had provoked it. It tried to grab my neck but I managed to protect myself by kicking it in the stomach. When I was prepared to give it another kick, it grabbed my leg with its strong teeth and blood started oozing from my leg. I immediately picked a piece of dry wood and hit it on the head and it ran away."

Community leader Ndinannyi Tshisikule said some of the victims were mauled when they were inside their houses. "The dog got inside some of the houses and injured its victims mercilessly. We have never seen such a thing since we started living at this place. Some believe that the dog is possessed by evil spirits while some say it has rabies."

Tshisikule alleges that police were hunting for the dog but it has vanished. "They could not catch it and efforts to apprehend it proved fruitless." He further alleges the dog belongs to someone from Mbilwi who dumped it there. "We heard that someone took the dog out of his car and vanished."

Vhembe Police Spokesperson Supt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi said police would investigate and get to the bottom of the matter. He said police have a right to arrest the owner of the dog who dumped it because he knew that the dog was dangerous to the community. "We will urgently go to the area and find out what exactly is happening. It is an offence to dump an animal while fully knowing that it is dangerous to the community."