Cape Town – Another child has been mauled to death by a pit bull in the Eastern Cape.
It is the third child killed by the dog breed in country during November.
The 15-month-old child was attacked by the pit bull on Wednesday and succumbed to his injuries in hospital, according to police.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana said the child was playing with the neighbours’ dog when it attacked him in the Gonubie Farm area.
“According to the report, the boy child was playing with the neighbour’s dog in Gonubie Farm when a passer-by who was walking with a dog in the proximity of the yard, was seen by the pit bull.
“It is further alleged that the pit bull attempted to get out of the yard whilst barking at the passing dog.
“After failing to leave the yard, the pitbull is alleged to have returned to the child and bite him in the upper body.
“Subsequent to the incident, the paramedics were called to transport the child to a nearby hospital, where he was reported to have succumbed to injuries sustained,“ Kinana said.
He said police have registered an inquest for investigation and the incident has also been reported to the SPCA.
In the Free State on November 20, a three-year-old boy was mauled to death by two pit bulls while playing in a neighbour’s yard.
A week prior to that a pit bull attacked and mauled to death an 8-year-old boy who was reportedly playing alone outside his home in Bloemfontein.
In September 10-year-old Storm Nuku was mauled to death by his family’s two pit bulls in his house in Gqeberha.
In Cape Town this week, angry residents allegedly stabbed, stoned and then torched three pit bulls that that attacked a child in Gatesville, Athlone on Sunday.
The Sizwe Kupelo Foundation said the last incident was the latest in a string of attacks.
