Two deaths in Nkomazi over the weekend shock community
A man was shot dead when fleeing from robbers in Block C and a 9-year-old boy suffocated when a sand heap collapsed in on him in Hectorspruit over the weekend.
TONGA – A 22-year-old foreign national was fatally shot in the back in Block C while he was trying to flee robbers on Friday evening.
According to Capt Magonseni Nkosi of Tonga SAPS, the man was reportedly closing up shop around 17:30 when four armed men attacked him. He tried to flee to his room and they shot him before running off.
The people living near him heard the commotion, found him seriously wounded and summoned an ambulance. He died in hospital. Nothing was stolen from the shop.
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On Sunday afternoon, a worker at a grocery store in Nkomazi Plaza was attacked by two armed men as he was heading home.
He ran away but was shot once in each leg and robbed of his cellphone.
The victim was rushed to hospital for treatment.
No arrests have been made but Nkosi stated that the police will follow up all leads and hope to catch the perpetrators soon.
The police are concerned about the trend of attacking employees and shop owners in Block C and urged them to be careful when heading home and step up their security measures, especially when cashing and locking up at the end of the day.
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Nkosi stated that house robberies and break-ins are continuously being reported and the police believe that the criminals are working in groups or as part of a syndicate.
Nkosi urged the community to assist the police with any information that could help make the Tonga policing area a crime-free zone.
On Sunday afternoon, nine-year-old Sunshine Vuma suffocated to death when the heap of sand he was playing in on a field near Hectorspruit collapsed on him.
According to Const Natacia Mbuyane of Komatipoort SAPS, the boy and a few friends were playing in the sand and dug a tunnel. When he tried to crawl out again, the tunnel collapsed and he was buried.
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The police were notified and an inquest was opened. After investigation by the police, the incident was ruled a tragic accident. According to a friend, the family is shattered by the incident.
Mbuyane stated that the heaps of sand are situated in no-man’s land in a field near a river and cannot be further safeguarded. Community members reportedly fetch sand from the area and it has turned into a play area for children.
She urged parents to keep an eye on their children when they play.
