The distraught mother of Reuben Le Roux, a 15-month-old Gonubie toddler who was mauled to death recently by a neighbour’s pit bull, fully supports calls for the banning of the breed. Reuben’s death rocked the country, with mounting calls for a ban on pit bulls in SA. Maryke van der Mescht, 37, of Hollows Farm, on Friday said her family was devastated by the sudden death of Reuben late last month.