A 16-year-old boy is in hospital, fighting for his life, after he was allegedly shot in the forehead by police who were chasing a zama zama on Saturday, April 26.

The family accused the police of refusing to assist them in calling an ambulance.

According to the victim’s mother, Lorrain Mokoena, her son, Success Mokoena, was next to the gate in the yard of his family home in Sabie when he was shot at 18:05.

“I was also outside when the police convoy approached our gate, and all of a sudden there was a sound of gunfire. When I went to investigate, I found my son lying in a pool of blood. I tried to stop the police to ask them why they had shot him, but they refused to stop and continued with their duties as if nothing had happened. I was informed by one of the police officers that they were chasing an illegal miner who entered our yard by jumping our wall, but we did not see him,” Mokoena said.

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According to her, a neighbour transported her son to Sabie Hospital for medical treatment.

The victim was later transferred to Rob Ferreira Hospital where he is awaiting an operation to remove the bullet from his head.

“I have opened a case against the police, but the treatment I received from them was not good at all. We still want answers as to why they fired a shot into our yard while there were people inside. Not one of the police members is communicating with us. We call for justice for my son because he was wounded in his own yard by the people who were supposed to protect him. He was at his home, where he was supposed to be safe,” she added.

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A police statement confirmed that the Operation Vala Umgodi officers were in the area and arrested 38 illegal miners the day the boy was shot

A provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, referred the matter to the Independent Police Investigation Department spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, who acknowledged having received Lowvelder’s enquiry.

He had, however, not responded at the time of publication.

• The mother of the victim granted Lowvelder permission publish her son’s name and photograph.