Ban pit bulls in residential areas

We support the call for pit bulls to be banned as pets, as the number of fatalities caused by these dogs increases.

In less than a year, three children have died after they were savagely attacked by pit bulls.

Eight-year-old Olebogeng Omolemo Mosime was mauled to death by the dog at his home in Vista Park, Mangaung in the Free State, on Saturday.

Police spokesperson Lt-Col Thabo Covane said the kid was attacked while playing alone after the dog jumped over the fence from the neighbour’s house.

He was bitten severely on the chest and neck and was declared dead on the scene. The dog was shot dead by the police on arrival.

On September 26, 10-year-old Storm Nuku was killed by his family’s two pit bulls at home in Antia Drive, Gqeberha. He was with two other kids in the house when the dogs attacked him.

The third victim, three-year-old Simamkele Kovu, was mauled to death as she was playing with other kids in the street in Zwide, Gqeberha on December 19 2021. At the time, the police said the dog had escaped from its home through a broken gate.

There have been several calls to ban the breed in residential settings since the latest incident. Calls we fully support as the dogs are not behaving like pets but beasts attacking our children.

Activist Sizwe Kupelo had 45,000 people sign his petition for the breed to be banned early this week. He said the petition would be submitted to authorities when it reaches the 50,000 mark.

We call on minister of agriculture Thoko Didiza to proclaim new legislation that would ensure pit bulls are not kept in residential areas. Save our children.

SA already has history of safety concerns for children because of violent crimes and muthi killings, we cannot afford to add another danger.

Yes, owners of dogs that leave their homes and attack people can be criminally charged, as it is their responsibility to keep them in their yards and the public safe. However, that is not enough as our children are being savagely killed by pit bulls. Whatever punishment they get from the justice system, it is a case of too little too late. By then somebody has been injured or a child has died, in circumstances that can be avoided.