The circumstances behind the incident are still sketchy.

Eastern Cape Health spokesperson, Yonela Dekeda, has told SABC News that the 15-month-old child was rushed for medical assistance but despite efforts to resuscitate him, the boy was pronounced dead.

Algoa FM reports police spokesperson Brigadier Thembinkosi Kinana said the incident happened in Gonubie on Wednesday afternoon.

He said 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 said when the dog failed to get out of the yard, it turned on the boy.

He said 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's 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 said there are more reports of attacks in Mthatha, East London, Gauteng and Cape Town where people are fighting for their lives in hospital.

Kupelo said this is a crisis that needs urgent attention.

On Wednesday, the SPCA made a plea to the 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.

Free State

In the Free State, the family of a man whose pit bull terriers are alleged to have fatally savaged a three-year-old boy at Hennenman, said they are deeply disturbed by what has happened.

Lebohang Pali made his second appearance in the Hennenman Magistrate’s Court where he is facing charges of culpable homicide and cruelty to animals.

He was arrested on Monday and released on R300 bail.

It is alleged that Pali’s two pit bull terriers attacked Keketso Saule on Sunday morning.

The case has been postponed to 23 January 2023 for further investigation and to allow Pali to get legal representation.

The accused’s brother, Jeffrey Morapeli, said “as the Morapeli family and as a brother to Lebohang Pali we send our condolences after what has transpired. As the Morapeli family, we are deeply concerned about what happened. This is extremely sad for both families. As a brother to Lebohang, we accept what happened and appeal to residents of Phomolong not to take the law into their own hands. As a family, we plead with the community on what happened, we accept it was an accident that can happen to anyone here in Phomolong.”

Meanwhile, pit bull owners across the Free State have been given seven days to hand over their pets voluntarily.

The stern warning has been issued by the provincial spokesperson of the South African National Civic Organisation, Tshepo Davids.

Two boys, aged eight and three, were fatally attacked by pit bulls in the province within a space of a week.

Davids says they will be visiting households where it is known that there are pit bulls and forcefully remove them.

SABC News/Ishmael Modiba