Family of Port Alfred dog attack victim speaks out

Brilliant, educated and independent, is how the family of the late Zimkhitha “Brenda” Gaga will remember her.

Gaga, 37, a chef, was mauled to death, reportedly by three pit bull terriers, on her way to work on Sunday. The family has appealed for calm in a community outraged and horrified at the way she died.

Speaking on their behalf, Gaga’s cousin Nomhle Gaga said they were devastated.

Nomhle lived with Gaga from the age of six months.

“This is very painful, especially because of the way she left us,” Nomhle said. “I spoke to her on the phone that morning. She was her usual bubbly self.”

Hours later, neighbours told Nomhle about Gaga’s terrible death. “This is very painful, especially for her children. But as a family, we want to remember her for her best attributes, which were being brilliant, educated and independent,” Nomhle said.

Gaga leaves four children, ranging from eight months to 16. The family called on the community to let the police do their work without interference. They were handling the case sensitively, she added.

Police said three pit bull terriers had been removed from their owner by the SPCA.

The owner lived near where Gaga’s body was found beside Alfred Road.

“The dogs escaped from the secured property by damaging the perimeter fencing,” Col Priscilla Naidu said.

Port Alfred restaurant Judy’s

Kitchen was closed on Monday as owner Judy Lottering and her staff struggled to come to terms with the loss of their colleague.

When the head chef at the Rosehill Mall restaurant did not arrive at work on Sunday morning, her colleagues were concerned. But it was midday before they learnt what had happened. “It has been a terrible shock for all of us,” Lottering said. “We are devastated.”

On Tuesday, Naidu said police had been in touch with the two men who reported the incident to a security guard, and had also located the dogs’ owner.

Ndlambe municipality said it would issue a statement about the incident in due course.

Stenden SA executive dean Dr Wouter Hensens confirmed that Gaga had studied at the institution.