Calls for ban of pitbull ownership
The EFF will explore, through means of legislation, avenues to ensure that domestic pitbull ownership is prohibited in the country.
While there has been a number of strong calls for the banning of pitbulls in domestic ownership after an increase of attacks in South Africa, Gamalakhe pitbull ‘owner’ Mampu Mseleku said the potential ban is unfair.
The most recent pitbull attack saw the death of a three-year-old child in Hennenman, Free State. Other tragic cases include the the mauling of a 10-year-old boy in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape and that of a 8-year-old boy in Vista Park, Free State.
In a recent statement by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the party said pitbulls are not suitable for domestic breeding because of their aggressive nature.
It added that it has become patently clear that pitbulls are not suitable for domestic breeding, especially in conditions that may not be favourable to their existence, such as limited living space.
“They’re an aggressive breed which attack humans viciously, and this is exhibited by their tendency to attack the human neck, rendering their attacks fatal.”
The party added that other countries had either banned or placed stringent conditions on the ownership of pitbulls due to the fact that they recognise that the breed cannot coexist with humans. This fact had become “increasingly clear in the recent spate of attacks in the country”.
“The ownership of pitbulls is often used as a deterrent to crime and home invasions, meaning they are deliberately bred to attack humans. The attack on children exposes how illogical it is to think that dogs can differentiate between which humans are a threat or not,” said the EFF.
However, Mseleku told the Fever the ban is not a good idea, saying that a permit should be granted to people who want to own pitbills so that a well-deserving person can keep this breed as a pet.
“What is currently happening with regards to pitbull attacks is very bad and it calls for people who own dogs to be taught on how to train their dogs from the time they are still puppies,” said Mseleku.
Meanwhile, the EFF said it encourages all pitbull owners to voluntarily hand over their dogs to the SPCA, to avoid further attacks and retaliation by communities to attacks.
“The EFF will explore through means of legislation, avenues to ensure that domestic pitbull ownership is prohibited in the country,” said the party.
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