JOHANNESBURG – A community in the City of Ekurhuleni is reeling in shock and anger after a toddler was killed in a dog attack last week. The tragic incident took place in the Marathon informal settlement, where a three-year-old girl was mauled by a pack of dogs while on her way to visit her grandfather.
According to reports, the child was walking alone through a narrow passage between shacks when several dogs launched a violent attack. Despite desperate efforts from bystanders who tried to intervene, the toddler succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
The horrifying incident has left residents devastated and demanding urgent intervention from authorities to prevent further tragedies.
Toddler Killed in Dog Attack While Walking to See Grandfather
The toddler killed in the dog attack was on her way to visit a close relative when the fatal incident occurred on Friday. Witnesses said the girl was navigating a tight, poorly maintained walkway within the densely populated settlement when the dogs—believed to be strays or loosely owned by residents—attacked without warning.
One community member who witnessed the aftermath described the scene as heartbreaking. “We heard screaming and ran to see what was happening. It was too late. She was gone. No child should die like that,” they said.
Following the dog Attack , community members quickly identified the dogs as belonging to local residents. In a wave of anger and grief, they demolished several shacks believed to belong to the owners of the animals involved in the attack. Many in the community defended the action, saying they had warned authorities in the past about the dangerous dogs roaming the area freely.
“We’ve reported these dogs before,” one resident said. “This isn’t the first time. But now a baby has died. We can’t live like this anymore.”
This is not an isolated incident. According to local authorities, this marks the third reported dog attack involving children in the same area. The fact that multiple complaints had been previously lodged has intensified calls for accountability.
Ward Councillor Geoffrey Mthembu has confirmed that he will be meeting with the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) to address the rising danger posed by uncontrolled dogs in the area. He emphasized the need for swift action to remove dangerous dogs and prevent further loss of life.
“I will be visiting the SPCA to request urgent intervention regarding the handling and removal of these dogs,” Mthembu stated. “This is the third incident involving the same dogs. How many more children must be attacked before something is done?”
Mthembu has also called on the relevant municipal departments, including animal control, environmental health, and community safety, to launch an urgent investigation and implement long-term solutions.
The death of the toddler killed in the dog attack has exposed serious gaps in public safety and animal control in informal settlements. In many such areas, there is limited enforcement of pet ownership laws, no regular patrols by animal control units, and virtually no veterinary services or sterilization programs.
Residents argue that the lack of infrastructure and oversight leads to aggressive dogs roaming freely, creating a ticking time bomb for tragedies like this.
“People keep dogs for protection, but they don’t train or restrain them,” said another resident. “Now a child has died, and nothing will bring her back.”
Animal welfare organizations, including the SPCA, are now under pressure to act quickly. Activists and residents alike are demanding mass removal of dangerous dogs, public education on responsible pet ownership, and stricter enforcement of existing laws.
While the SPCA has not yet issued a detailed statement, it is expected to conduct assessments and remove unlicensed or dangerous animals from the area as part of an emergency intervention.
As the Marathon informal settlement mourns the life of the toddler killed in the dog attack, the focus now shifts to prevention. Community leaders are calling for:
- Regular patrols and inspections by animal control units.
- Sterilization drives and education on safe pet ownership.
- Fencing and leash requirements for dog owners.
- Legal accountability for owners of aggressive or unrestrained dogs.
The death of a three-year-old girl in a dog attack has ignited widespread grief and outrage in Ekurhuleni. It has also exposed the urgent need for effective animal control and community safety measures in South Africa’s informal settlements.
For now, the community mourns. But residents say they will not rest until authorities take decisive action to ensure no other family suffers such a preventable tragedy.
Source- EWN
