Woman opens case against metro cops after grandson shot

The boy, who cannot be named, and three others landed in the crossfire as the police fired rubber bullets and teargas canisters at residents during an operation to remove illegal squatters on Monday, Rekord North reported.

The boy’s angry grandmother said she was determined to make the metro police department “pay”.

According to her, the young boy was walking out of the family’s shack when he was hit in the arm by the rubber bullet.

She alleged police began collecting shells from the bullets they fired when they realised people had been hurt.

“I also collected the used rubber bullets as evidence…How do you fire a rubber bullet at an eight-year-old boy?” she said.

Tshwane metro police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said the police opened fire when residents began throwing petrol bombs at them.

Mahamba said an order to remove the illegal squatters was obtained and notices to vacate were served on them a week ago, but none of the squatters complied.

“Police had to retaliate and fire rubber bullets to disperse the rioters. Fortunately, no injuries on either side have been reported,” said Mahamba.

“We have gone around the community and to hospitals. So far, no children have been reported injured,” he added.

Mahamba said allegations that metro police shot two children with rubber bullets were being investigated.

– Caxton News Service