CAPE TOWN - While the heated debate over the proposed ban on pit bull breeds as domestic pets in South Africa rages on with no government interventions yet, communities are taking matters into their own hands with three pit bulls that attacked a child in Gatesville, Athlone, set alight at the weekend.

Angry residents allegedly stabbed, stoned and then torched the dogs on Sunday. The dogs attacked a young girl who had to be rushed to a nearby hospital with severe injuries.

According to the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, this was the second incident of dogs being set alight at the weekend.

The dogs’ bodies were taken to the SPCA in Grassy Park where post-mortems would be conducted.

“We urge the public to contact the SPCA if a dog behaves aggressively or tries to bite someone.

We will take the dog immediately. People must not take matters into their own hands. No animal deserves to endure brutality and suffering,” said the SPCA’s chief inspector, Jaco Pieterse.

The incident happened the same day a three-year-old boy was mauled to death by a pit bull in a neighbour’s yard in Hennenman in the Free State.

Last week an 8-year-old boy was also mauled to death by a neighbour’s pit bull in Bloemfontein.

These incidents, along with others reported in recent months, have sparked the controversial ban call, with Sizwe Kupelo Foundation establishing a petition to various ministers including Thoko Didiza of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development.

“The call to ban pit bulls in South Africa comes as other countries like Russia, Finland, Denmark, United Kingdom, among a host of countries, have either banned (or) put restrictions on ownership of the breed or its importation.

Foundation founder and patron Sizwe Kupelo has called on the SA government to follow suit,” the petition stated.

The petition had garnered 105,839 signatures by Monday.

The EFF has also supported calls for the ban, and said it is planning to explore through means of legislation, avenues to ensure that domestic pit bull ownership is prohibited.

The Cape of Good Hope SPCA said it does not support the petition to ban or outlaw pit bulls, but supports the motion to develop and implement stronger regulation or legislation with regard to the keeping and breeding of power breed dogs.

“The development and implementation of stronger regulations, such as compulsory sterilisation and permitting in order to keep power breeds, would be a step in the right direction.”

Cape Animal Welfare Forum chairperson Karen de Klerk condemned the killing of dogs and attacks on SPCA officials attempting to do their work.

Animal Welfare Society of South Africa spokesperson Allan Perrins said they have had a few concerned owners surrender their pit bulls to them for euthanasia but nothing out of the ordinary.

“When communities kill dogs they commit an offence in terms of the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962. Adopting an indifferent eye-for-an-eye stance or taking the law into your own hands is totally unacceptable,” said Perrins.

Cape Times