Shot little boy ‘brain dead’
LIFE SUPPORT: THE TODDLER WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD AND IS BRAIN DEAD Police seek witnesses after opening a case of robbery and attempted murder.
Afour-year-old boy has been declared brain dead after he was caught in the crossfire during a spaza shop robbery a week ago.
Robbers shot four-year-old Thato Mhaula in the head during an armed robbery at a spaza shop in South Hills, Johannesburg, on June 13.
The toddler was with two of his siblings when the incident happened.
His father, Sifiso Mtshali, told the Southern Courier: “Seeing my son with those machines is painful. My son and the other two went to the shop at about 7pm on the day. I believe there was an armed robbery when they arrived and the suspects were about to leave when the youngsters entered the shop. Thato was shot while the suspects were about to go out of the shop.
“The bullet damaged his brain. The doctors confirmed that he is brain dead and he is on a life-support machine,” he said.
Ward 57 councillor Faeeza Chame, meanwhile, lamented the danger of spaza shops being used for drug peddling.
“We have too many spaza shops in South Hills. Our last count a few months ago was over 50. On every street corner is a spaza shop. Most of these shops are used as drug dens where school children hang out. At this particular house shop, every day our schoolchildren will hang out there and use the pavements as a gambling platform.
“The SA police and Joburg metro police must be more visible and these spaza shops should be inspected on a regular basis. Law enforcement officers must start doing their job to inspect these spaza shops and validate their legality. If they don’t comply, they must be closed down,” she said.
Moffat View Saps spokesperson captain Jeff Phora confirmed the incident and is appealing to any witnesses to come forward.
“A case of business robbery and attempted murder has been opened at the station. I can confirm that there were five suspects. After they held the people hostage at the shop, they told them to lie down while they took R3 000 and goods worth R5 000. On their way out, the little boy entered the shop and when he saw people lying down, he started crying and that’s when they shot him.
“They are between the ages of 25 to 35 and they fled in a black Audi A4. We appeal to anyone with information to contact us on 011-405-1539 or call anonymously on 10111,” Phora said. – Caxton News Service/Southern Courier
...spaza shops are used as drug dens...