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Enraged locals beat and set on fire pit bull that mauled 3-year-old boy to death

The toddler was pronounced dead at the scene, having suffered severe head injuries

HENNENMAN, SOUTH AFRICA: In a bloody and tragic incident, a 3-year-old boy in South Africa was mauled to death by two pit bulls on a neighbor's property. Newsweek reported that when Hennenman police arrived at the scene, they found a large group of angry people gathered around where the attack is believed to have occurred. The toddler, Keketso Innocent Saule, was pronounced dead at the scene.

But the attacks did not stop there. Enraged that the child's life had come to such a short end in such a brutal way, the inhabitants of the area threw stones at the dogs, beat them, and then set them on fire. The death of the child occurred on Sunday, November 20, at about 8.15 am.

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​Free State police spokesman Captain Stephen Thakeng said of the horrific incident, "Two pit bull dogs attacked a three-year-old boy and mauled him to death. At this stage, we are investigating." He later also elaborated on the attack of the dogs by local residents, saying that the attack began when one of them returned the dog's attack with rocks and garden spades before setting the dog on fire.

"The angry residents wanted to kill both dogs and attack the owner of these two pit bulls. Members of Welkom Public Order Policing were summoned to the scene and removed the owner to a safe place." he said.

As it turned out, the attack of the dogs did not appease the anger of the local residents, because they also attacked the men who were charged with removing the dogs from the place. Captain Thakeng had said, “We can confirm that the staff of SPCA was attacked by angry residents, but nobody got injured. Members of Welkom Public Order Policing and Hennenman SAPS managed to rescue them."

Ernest Khakhau, a member of the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said, “We had to vacate the place because we were attacked. We left one dog there. The other dog had managed to escape, and we removed that dog, which has been euthanized.”

Captain Thakeng also expressed concern over footage from the incident being shared on social media, “We have noted with concern a clip that is making the rounds on social media platforms where the two dogs are seen killing the deceased. Residents must refrain from doing it. This gesture must stop with immediate effect.”