Shot child fights for recovery
Parents of a six-year-old child shot during the house robbery at Umgibeli block of flats fear that he might be paralysed.
The six-month-old child shot during a house robbery in Sunnyside recently is fighting a brave battle to recovery at Steve Biko Academic Hospital.
Musea Weldencheal and his father Seltan were admitted to the hospital three weeks ago after two men wearing blue overalls opened fire on them at the Umgibeli block of flats.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Katlego Mogale said the bullet struck the baby in his legs and Seltan in the left thigh.
The child’s legs are suspended upright in the bed, but he remains cheerful, seemingly ignorant how close to death he had come. He laughs and plays without any worry in the world.
His parents are, however, worried as they have no clue of what would be the outcome of the injury.
They fear that he might be paralysed.
“The doctor said to me, one leg will be fine but he didn’t know about the other leg where the bullet first struck,” Seltan said.
It yet not clear when little Musea will be discharged from hospital
Seltan was discharged from the hospital a few days after the shooting but still has the bullet stuck in his body.
He said the doctors had planned to remove it the next two weeks when it might be safe to do so.
“Doctors said the bullet is in a dangerous area, they would wait until it moves a bit before operating on me,” Seltan said.
Police said the criminals first went to the flat of Azmera Muhtsun’, Saltan’s neighbour and entered it through the front door which was not locked.
“They pointed a pistol at Muhtsun and demanded money,” Mogale said.
The robbers took R1 000 in cash and a cell phone.
They came across Seltan playing with his son in the passage.
Saltan said the criminals asked him something he didn’t understand and when he failed to respond, they shot him and his child and ran away.
All the victims are Ethiopian nationals.
Police said they had received information that the two suspects were earlier seen around the premises.
“An identikit is currently being compiled. No one has been arrested yet and the case of house robbery and attempted murder is being investigated,” Mogale said.
The criminals are still at large.
