Greenwood Park police are investigating an inquest docket after a 38-year-old man was allegedly mauled and killed by a dog, believed to be a pitbull, in Peters Road, Sea Cow Lake, recently.

Following the death of the resident, about 200 angry community members protested outside the business premises, where the dog is believed to have been kept, calling for an end to the dog attacks as the incident was apparently not the first one.

The group of furious informal settlement residents allegedly went on a rampage and set alight a building and vehicles, including a forklift truck which was in the vicinity.

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One of the residents who work in the area, Sphamandla Mkhize, said they are always scared to walk past the area as the dogs attack them and they are not controlled.

“We need to be protected from these vicious dogs,” he said.

Residents also took to social media to express their outrage on the matter. Lebohang Phiri wrote, “I was at the scene and it’s amazing how the protesters are so united and diversified, we have Africans, Indians and Whites all united and protesting.”

Aslam Karim wrote, “I too was attacked by the same pack of pitbulls in Peter Close in August 2018. Was dropping my truck off for repairs at Auto Bahn Garage. Was waiting for my dad to collect me when the dogs attacked me. Luckily, the owner’s son heard me shout as I tried to make it back into the workshop and he managed to chase them off. I laid a charge with Greenwood Park police station and am still to hear from them. I went to the SPCA in Springfield Park to report it but they were no help. When I was at the police station, they knew these dogs and their owner very well and were aware of the situation then. It is sad that someone had to lose their life. This is a vicious pack and I am lucky to be alive. People need to learn to socialise their dogs at a young age. Take them to training. Dogs are supposed to be companions, not killers. Sheer negligence from the owner and also from the police who knew about it and did nothing.”

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Police spokeswoman, Colonel Thembeka Mbhele, said the group of protesters were complaining about dogs that attack them when they are walking past the premises.

“They allegedly set the building alight and damaged the forklift truck but the fire was swiftly doused off. One of the protesters was injured by the forklift truck and taken to hospital for medical attention,” said Col Mbhele.

Greenwood Park SAPS and Public Order Police arrested eight suspects and they will be charged for public violence.

They appeared in court on Monday. “Police are still in the area, monitoring the situation,” she said.

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