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A 15-month-old child has been mauled to death by a pit bull on a farm near East London.
Police Spokesperson Brigadier Thembinkosi Kinana says the incident happened in Gonubie on Wednesday afternoon.
He says the toddler was playing with the neighbour's pit bull in Gonubie Farm when a passer-by, who was walking his dog in the proximity of the yard, caught the eye of the pit bull.
Brigadier Kinana says when the dog failed to get out of the yard, it turned on the boy.
He says paramedics transported the child to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
An inquest docket has been opened and reported to the SPCA.
Meanwhile, the Sizwe Kupelo foundation who launched a petition to have the breed banned in South Africa has garnered 120 000 signatures, whilst those opposed to this have managed to get 35 551 signatures in their petition.
Kupelo launched the petition last month when a 10-year-old boy from Gqeberha was mauled to death.
He says there are more reports of attacks in Mthatha, East London, Gauteng and Cape Town where people are fighting for their lives in hospital.
Kupelo says this is a crisis that needs urgent attention.
On Wednesday the SPCA made a plea to Government to assist with funding as they were inundated with dogs being handed over by owners.
National spokesperson Keshvi Nair told Algoa FM News that the breed should be owned by people who understand the dog's limitations.
