Eight-year-old boy killed by pit bull in South Africa

There are growing calls in South Africa for pit bull dogs to be banned as domestic pets.

It comes after an eight-year-old child was reportedly mauled to death last Saturday by a pit bull.

South Africa has one of the highest incidents of deaths related to dog attacks in the world relative to its population, according to reports.

In October, a 10-year-old boy was mauled to death by two pit bulls owned by the family.

More than 50,000 people have signed an online petition to ban pit bulls as domestic pets in South Africa.

The Sizwe Kupelo Foundation, who are behind the petition, said the push for a ban was "necessitated by the attacks which seem to continue unabated".