In April 2023, a petition with more than 139 000 signatures was submitted to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development ,Thoko Didiza, calling for a ban on the ownership of pitbulls as domestic pets.
An elderly couple were attacked by their pet pit bulls at their home in Dawncrest, Verulam on Tuesday.
The couple, aged 80 and 73 years old, had gone out into their yard when they heard a commotion.
“The couple went to check on why the dogs were barking and found them to be reacting to monkeys in the yard. The dogs were in an ‘altercation’ with the monkeys and the couple tried to intervene when the dogs attacked their owner. The elderly couple sustained penetrating bite wounds to their legs,” said Prem Balram from Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA).
The two were treated at the scene and then taken to hospital where they are in stable condition.
A growing number of pitbull attacks in South Africa has led to a call for a ban on the ownership of this breed as domestic pets in the country.
In April 2023, a petition with more than 139 000 signatures was submitted to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development ,Thoko Didiza, calling for the ban.
In addition, legal claims arising from attacks by pit bulls has also increased, according to an attorney who spoke to YOUR eThekwini, with victims of pitbull attacks increasingly seeking compensation to cover medical costs, loss of earnings and damages.
South African law holds dog owners responsible for injuries caused by their pets and they may be prosecuted under the Animal Matters Amendment Act.
The Pit Bull Association of South Africa urged owners to take responsibility for their pets and to ensure they are trained properly and sterilised. They also advocate against dog fighting and unregistered breeding.