No arrests have yet been made in the attempted murder case of three young children in Lavender Hill last week.
The children, aged six, 10 and 15, were shot on Tuesday November 28, just a few days after the start of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign.
According to Steenberg police, an unknown man dressed in a black hooded top and with a covered face approached and shot the three children as well as a 35-year-old man in front of a tuck shop in Wilmar Street, Lavender Hill, at 6.15pm.
The gunman then continued to shoot into Stuckeris Court.
The 15-year-old and 10-year-old are brothers. Their mother, Shafieka Akbar, said her elder son was standing inside the shop when he was shot in the stomach and leg and her younger son was shot in the hand at the bottom of the staircase to their home in the court.
“I just got home from work when it happened and was busy making food when I heard several shots. I then saw my son come up the stairs full of blood and he collapsed in front of our door,” she said.
Ms Akbar said the children are recovering but are traumatised by the incident.
“We’ve been living in Lavender Hill for 32 years and there never used to be shootings this side. It has also been quiet for a while until recently. I am saddened by the situation in Lavender Hill because gangsters aren’t shooting gangsters, they’re shooting innocent people and children,”said Ms Akbar.
She said it’s sad that children are being shot at, especially during the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign, which runs from November 25 to December 10 every year.
“I am scared for my children and for other children. We’re afraid to even send our kids to the shop because just like that they were shot at. My wish for Lavender Hill is that there would be peace for the sake of our innocent children growing up in Lavender Hill,” she said.
The six-year-old girl was shot in the leg. She and her siblings were on their way to buy chips at the tuck shop in Wilmar Street. He aunt, Asiema Abdurahman, said when she heard the shots she ran out to see where the children were and saw her niece covered in blood. The bullet entered her thigh and exited on the other side. “It was traumatising and scary to see innocent children being shot in broad daylight. Our children can’t even play outside anymore because their safety is not guaranteed,” said Ms Abdurahman.
“For the sake of our children, we need peace in Lavender Hill. Our children’s lives, their education and wellbeing is at stake because of gangsterism and senseless shootings,” she said.
Resident Mymoena Anwar said the fact that three children were shot at is alarming.
“It shows that these gangsters have no respect for our children. In a time when we are supposed to be protecting our kids they are shooting at them. Now we are afraid to send our children to the shop or for them to play outside because they could get killed,” said Ms Anwar.
Warrant Officer John Bartlett said 10 9mm cartridges and five projectiles were found on the scene.
“The motive for the shooting is unknown at this stage. Steenberg police have registered a case of attempted murder for investigation and no one has been arrested as yet,” said Warrant Officer Bartlett.
Anyone with information about the shooting can call Steenberg police at 021 702 9000 or Crime Stop at 0860 010 111.
