Dog attack: family speaks out
Three pit bulls seized after attack
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 in Alfred Road, Port Alfred, reportedly by three pit bull terriers, on her way to work on Sunday.
The family has appealed for calm among a community outraged and horrified at the brutal manner in which she died.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Zimkhitha’s cousin, Nomhle Gaga, said they were devastated. From the age of six months, Zimkhitha lived with Nomhle’s family.
“This is very painful for us, especially because of the way in which she left us,” Nomhle said.
“It is unimaginable that she died in that way. I spoke to her on the phone that very Sunday morning.”
“Zimkhitha was her usual bubbly self.”
Only a few hours later, residents in the area told Nomhle about Zimkhitha’s terrible death.
“This is very painful, especially for her [four] children,” the eldest of whom was 16 years old and the youngest eight months, she said.
“But as a family, we want to remember her for her best attributes, which were being brilliant, educated and independent,” said Nomhle.
Her family is also appealing for the community to stay calm and not interfere with the police investigators, who, Nomhle said, were handling the case sensitively.
“As a family, we want the police to be given an opportunity and time to do their investigation,” she said.
Nomhle also said the family would like to be given the space to mourn in peace. Police on Monday said three pit bull terriers, allegedly responsible for Zimkhitha’s death, had been removed by the SPCA.
They said the owner of the dogs lived in the vicinity.
“The dogs allegedly managed to escape from the secured property by damaging the perimeter fencing,” said Colonel Priscilla Naidu in an update earlier this week by the SAPS Eastern Cape’s provincial office.
Port Alfred restaurant Judy’s Kitchen was closed on November 28 as owner Judy Lottering and her staff struggled to come to terms with the sudden brutal death of their much-loved colleague.
On Tuesday, Naidu said police had been in touch with two men said to have witnessed the attack who reported it to a security guard, and had also located the dogs’ owner.
Colonel Naidu said the investigation remained an inquest at this stage.