Durban - The controversial “Ban pit bulls as domestic pets in South Africa” petition has garnered more than 44 500 signatures.
In October, the Sizwe Kupelo Foundation, a non-profit organisation, that advocates for vulnerable children, called for the immediate ban of pit bulls following an attack which resulted in the death of a 10-year-old in Nelson Mandela Bay.
The foundation said they were prompted to start the petition because of the loss of a child’s life.
It said at 50 000, the petition will be handed over to Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza with the hope that the national government will heed the call to protect and save lives by imposing a ban on the breed.
“Let us put more pressure on government and speak in one voice: ban the wild animals known as pit bulls now. Too many lives have already been lost, while many who lived to tell the story of the vicious attacks by these wild animals have been scarred for life,” the foundation said.
The organisation distanced itself from social media posts saying there was a monetary reward to anyone who reports a home with the breed.
“We are calling on people not to be misled by the social media posts which say people who report homes with pit bulls will be paid between R1 500 and R2 500.”
THE MERCURY