Boy shot as police open fire
An 8-year-old boy was among four people who were shot and wounded as police opened fire on illegal squatters in Soshanguve on Monday.
David Matsena
An eight-year-old boy was among four people wounded when police opened fire on illegal squatters in Soshanguve on Monday.
The boy who’s identity has been withheld, landed in the crossfire as the police fired rubber bullets and threw teargas canisters at the residents.
Police were on an operation to remove illegal squatters in Soshanguve after they occupied land at extension 19 in Soshanguve.
The boy’s angry grandmother, said she had laid attempted murder charges against the metro police and was determined to make them pay.
She said 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,” she said.
Tshwane metro police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said the police opened fire when residents began throwing petrol bombs at them.
However, the grandmother said the police’s intention were quite clear that they came there to fight, hurt or kill.
“How do you fire a rubber bullet at an eight-year-old boy?” she asked.
Mahamba said an order to remove the illegal squatters was obtained and notices to vacate were served to them a week ago, but none of the squatters complied.
“It is not true that the residents had petrol bombs. If it was true, why was none of the red ants or police injured?” she asked.
The young boy was walking out of the family’s shack when he was hit by the rubber bullet on the arm.
The grandmother said several people were injured.
There were also rumours that two kids were killed.
This was denied by police spokesperson Warrant Officer Mathews Nkoadi.
“It is not true that there were casualties. What we are aware of is that four people were injured, and three trucks and one bus burnt,” he said.
Mahamba said the police and metro police were tasked last week with assisting a service provider employed by the metro to remove the squatters in Soshanguve Extension 9.
Their brief was not to remove the squatters themselves, but to ensure the service provider could do its job unharmed.
“Last week Wednesday, when we went in to clear out the squatters, things were too tense and we were unable to proceed,” Mahamba said.
“The plan was made to then come back on Monday and proceed with the removal.”
The operation went ahead as planned on Monday, but irate residents took their frustrations out on police and pelted them with stones. Some also threw petrol bombs.
“Police had to retaliate and fire rubber bullets to disperse the rioters. Fortunately, no injuries on either side have been reported,” said Mahamba.
Four people were arrested — two for public violence and two for being in the possession of petrol bombs.
Mahamba said allegations that metro police shot two children with rubber bullets were being investigated.
“We have gone around the community and to hospitals. So far, no children have been reported injured.”
He said the operation formed part of the metro police’s efforts to stamp out illegal land grabs, adding that they would continue to remove any illegal squatter.
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