The community of Blue Sky informal settlement in Boksburg North is reeling from shock after a six-year-old boy from the settlement had his genitals cut off in a nearby veld last week Tuesday.

Information indicates that the boy, who was spotted trying to crawl to safety in extreme agony, was found in a ditch at the side of the mine-owned field near the liquor store on Trichardts Road in Cason.

According to residents, members of the community made the discovery while pursuing two criminals who robbed a woman as she was walking down the road.

The boy, whose genital area was reportedly swollen and bleeding, was rushed to the nearby clinic before he was taken to Tambo Memorial Hospital. According to hospital CEO Zenzo Ndabula, he was later transferred to the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.

The Boksburg Advertiser visited the informal settlement on Thursday afternoon where residents said they were distraught over the gruesome attack on the boy.

“We are a close-knit community and treated the child as our own. We know the boy and his parents well. He would come here almost every day to ask for something to eat and play with the other children. We feel very sorry for him and his family. On that day, he came here around midday and, as usual, we gave him something to eat. He was playing here before he went out.

“We could not believe it when, a few minutes after he left, we received the sad news that he has been found in the veld with his private parts removed. His genital area was bleeding and badly swollen.

“We are all afraid because the people who did this are still walking free,” said resident Martha Naude.

Another resident, Martha’s daughter Chantel, said she was considering moving out of the area for fear of their safety.

“It is very scary, and we are disappointed. I’m considering moving with my child because you just never know who is next. To make matters worse, the mother was admitted in hospital for almost a week and was booked for an operation this week.

“She had to leave the hospital and go to her son in Johannesburg because she was not even aware of this. The father was at work when the attack happened and the boy [was] left at home with his brother. The father has been with the child in the hospital since the incident,“ said Chantel.

“We don’t even want to let our children play near the gate because we don’t know if these people are still in the area. It’s not safe at all. We hope the police will find these criminals and bring them to book for their crime.“

The community pointed out that the boy is still not attending school and they understand that social workers are trying to assist the boy and his family.

Resident Lina Makwena added: “Our hearts are sore. May God be with him and help him to recover soon. We feel unsafe because we also have children and they are also boys. As you can see the area is overgrown.

“Maybe if the municipality can help clear these bushes we can then see our children when playing. I don’t know why they did that to the child, but I think it is satanism. Who does that? Who pepper-sprays a child and cuts off his private parts?”

Another neighbour pointed out that people are frequently being targeted by criminals who pounce on pedestrians and run to hide in the mine-owned veld and the bushes.

He appealed to the mine owners to cordon off their area.

Efforts to get a comment from the Boksburg Child Welfare and other local welfare organisations proved unsuccessful, but Boksburg SAPS station commander Colonel Matshedeso Mbele confirmed police are investigating a case of attempted murder.

“Our members were called to the hospital on March 1 after paramedics took him to the hospital.”

Mbele said the boy is in a stable condition.