By Chimaimba Banda
An 18-month-old baby girl savaged by two pitbull terriers in Brakpan earlier this week has died in the Johannesburg Hospital.
A police spokesperson, Inspector Joep Joubert, said police were now investigating a case of culpable homicide against the owner of the dogs.
A report on the investigation will also be sent to the director of public prosecutions to decide on any further charges.
Joubert said Betty Zuma, the mother of baby Sandy was still in a critical condition in the hospital after undergoing emergency surgery.
Zuma, a domestic worker, and her daughter were savaged as she tried to protect her child, who had apparently opened a gate leading to the dogs.
The two were airlifted to Johannesburg Hospital, and the two dogs were shot dead by traffic officers who had responded to a call for help.
The dogs' owner has so far not been identified.
It was the second reported pitbull attack this year. In March, a domestic worker was savaged by pitbull terriers at the home of her employer in Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal.