The family of a five-year-boy who was mauled by two pitbulls want the owner to be held accountable for their son's death. Zee Mthie from Alice in the Eastern Cape was on his way to meet his mother next door and go to church on Saturday when he was ambushed by two pit bulls a few meters from his family home. 

AMBUSHED BY PITBULLS 

His uncle Bulelani Mthie told ZiMoja that his nephew loved going to church but on Saturday, he never made it to church after he was ambushed by two pitbulls. "My nephew left the family home to go meet up with his mother ,three houses away, when he was attacked by the dogs," he said. Mthie also said that a passerby had to intervene and fend off the two wild creatures, who were busy mauling my nephew," Mthie said. He added that the mother and other neighbours only went outside when they heard commotion and the dogs barking outside. "It was a heartbreaking scene; my sister went out there thinking there were people fighting only to see her son being killed by dogs. That's something we will never forget as a family."

FAMILY DEVASTATED 

Mthie said that they were devastated about the ordeal as the mother had to be admitted into hospital after her son's passing. "My sister is going through a lot and I feel for her. Seeing her child bleeding and literally being killed on the streets broke her. I wish I could take her pain away.  What makes this even worse is the fact that the owner of the dogs is not taking responsibility for Zee's death, probably because he knows we are poor and can't do anything," he added. Mthie pleaded with anyone who can help them make the owner of the dogs to be held accountable to come forward.  Eastern Cape SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana confirmed the incident. "At about 08h00 on Saturday, Alice Police went to Dyamala village to investigate an allegation that a five-year-old boy was mauled to death by dogs," Kinana said. He added the boy was walking in the street when he was chased and injured by pitbulls. "He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and later transferred to Frere Hospital where he died due to the injuries he sustained. The pitbulls were taken by SPCA and a case of Inquest has been opened for investigation," he said.