A South African community has been thrown into a state of mourning after a four-year-old boy, Milani Keke, was mauled to death by two pit bulls.

The young lad was attacked by the dogs in Gugulethu when he tried to retrieve a ball while playing rugby with friends at home on Sunday. The animals are currently in the care of the SPCA as investigations continue.

His mother, Nothemba Keke, spoke to the Cape Times saying;

“I was here at home when I heard the screams of my daughter crying ‘Mama come out, Milani is being attacked by dogs.’ I ran outside and one was attacking him from the back of his skull while the other barked and ran around him. I ran and tried to jump the fence to save him, but a neighbour grabbed me and pulled me back,”

“I don’t like to talk about it. Even now I don’t feel like talking; we are distraught and we are still shocked.”

Police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana confirmed they were investigating the attack.

“A death inquest case has been opened for investigation by Gugulethu police after a 4-year-old boy died at NY 50 after he was attacked by two dogs inside the yard while he was fetching a ball.

“The circumstances surrounding this incident are being investigated by the police, with no arrests so far.”

Ward councillor Sharon Manata said the community of Gugulethu was traumatised, and grieved with the family.

“Some people are very angry. You ask yourself, in these four-roomed houses that we have what makes a person have such vicious dogs?

“We don’t have big yards, this innocent child was just playing in the yard of his home and by mistake the ball fell in the next dooryard.

“This child was not even in the yard of these dogs, but they dragged him from the fence. We are crying with the family, crying with the mother who is traumatized by seeing her child being mauled by the dogs. Truly as a community we are shattered,” she said.