A 15-month-old boy has been killed by a pit bull in East London, just days after another toddler was killed by a neighbour’s two pit bulls in the Free State.

The boy, who has not been named, was reportedly playing with the neighbour’s dog when it saw another dog passing in the street.

Eastern Cape Police spokesperson Brigadier Thembinkosi Kinana said after it failed to escape the yard and reach the passing dog, the pit bull returned to the child and bit him on the chest.

“It bit him in the upper body. Subsequent to the incident, paramedics were called to transport the child to a nearby hospital, where he was reported to have succumbed to injuries sustained,” said Kinana.

The child was certified dead upon arrival at Frere Hospital.

Kinana said police had opened an inquest case for investigation.

“No case has been opened yet. The investigation is still ongoing. We do not know what the outcome of that investigation will be,” Kinana said.

Earlier this week, three-year-old Koketso Saule was mauled to death by a neighbour’s two pitbulls in the Free State.

The dogs’ owner, Lebohang Pali, has since been released on R300 bail.

He was charged with offences related to the Animals Amendments Act.

Pictured above: A pit bull has mauled to death a one-year-old toddler in the Eastern Cape

Picture source: @NewzroomAfrica