Stray bullet victim ‘let down’ by cops

A TRIP home from the airport turned into a nightmare for a KwaDukuza woman, who was hit in the head by a stray bullet during a shoot-out between suspected hijackers near her home.

With blood pouring down her face, Shameema Jeewa continued driving until she reached Stanger Provincial Hospital, where she was treated for her wound.

Fortunately, the bullet had only grazed her head and she was not seriously injured.

But Jeewa is furious with the police, who she claims failed to follow through with the investigation.

Although police officers did visit her in hospital, she later discovered they had failed to properly register a case. In fact, they assigned a reference number that was for an unrelated case of culpable homicide.

Jeewa said the drama began on Thursday night as she was driving from King Shaka International Airport, with her mother and an aunt whom she had picked up.

“As I turned into my road, I saw two vehicles in the oncoming lane. They were travelling one behind the other and at high speed,” she said.

Jeewa then heard multiple gunshots. “I saw my windscreen shatter and felt my head get hot. I was in total shock, but somehow managed to keep driving.

“I got to the hospital and was told by doctors that the bullet had missed my brain by one or two centimetres and I was lucky to be alive.”

She said a policeman arrived at the hospital the next morning and told her he had opened a case of attempted murder on her behalf. But that was never done, she said, adding she felt “let down”.

“Police officers are meant to help the community. Now how do I get justice for almost being killed?”

Police spokesperson Major Thulani Zwane said she should report the incident to the station commander of KwaDukuza SAPS.