A 37-year-old Port Alfred woman was mauled to death by dogs on Sunday morning as she was making her way to work.
Authorities are searching for the owners of the dogs, as well as two eyewitnesses who saw the 37-year-old woman get killed.
Lieutenant-Colonel Priscilla Naidu said an inquest docket has been opened for investigation.
She said it is alleged that the woman was walking at about 07:45am on Alfred Road when she was attacked.
“Two males who witnessed the attack ran to a nearby security official and reported the incident. The security official then contacted the police,” she said.
When police arrived at the scene, the badly injured woman was lying on the side of the road.
“The woman sustained serious injuries to her face and upper body. The dogs were nowhere to be found she died before receiving any medical attention,” Naidu said.
The investigation continues and authorities in Port Alfred searching for the owner of the dogs.
“Detectives are searching for the owner of the dogs. The number and breed of the dogs are unknown at this stage and police believe that the two males who witnessed the incident can provide crucial information in the investigation,” Naidu said.
Anyone with information on the animals’ owner as well as the two men who witnessed the attack is urged to call Lieutenant-Colonel Yogan Reddy on 046 604 2405 or 082 332 8796.
A number of dog attacks have made headlines recently in South Africa, resulting in a petition to ban pit bulls specifically.
The dog attacks which were reported all involved pit bull and most resulting in fatalities.
In the most recent incident, a 15-month-old baby was mauled at Gonubie Farm in East London and reportedly died at Frere Hospital in the Eastern Cape.
According to the police, the child was playing with the neighbour’s pit bull in the yard when a person walked past the property with a dog.
The pit bull tried to attack the dog but could not reach it, the dog then attacked the baby.
Source: News24, IOL, Times Live, The Citizen, image from Twitter: @puppy_snuggles