Woman shot during unrest fears going to hospital
PIGG’S PEAK – *Grace only lives a stone’s throw from the Pigg’s Peak Government Hospital, but her leg, in which a bullet is lodged, is in danger of rotting away.
Grace, who is a businesswoman, alleged that she was hit by a stray bullet while at her house.
At the time, she claimed police officers were dispersing protesters.
This was on the day when the country experienced the civil unrest which resulted in looting, vandalism and torching of property. This was on June 29, 2021, and she was one of many people who were injured.
However, Grace said she has been afraid to go to the hospital as they demanded that the matter should be reported to the police first. She also revealed that on the day she was shot, she went to the hospital, but was advised to go to the police first.
“I did not feel comfortable at the time,” she said.
Grace also said she recently received anonymous calls from people threatening her. “I feel like some people are looking for me,” she said.
Worried
Grace said she was worried police officers could implicate her as one of the protesters yet she was shot while she was at her house. She said she even collected some of the bullet cartridges which were allegedly scattered near the gate to her house. Grace alleged that a hail of bullets were fired on the streets and that one of them hit her, hence her injury.
At the time, She said she had not realised that the bullet was still lodged in her leg and said it just felt like a sharp pain in the leg hence she decided to go to the hospital for treatment.
Grace also revealed that lately, the pain in her leg had been worsening. She also said she could now feel the bullet moving and that the pain was unbearable. Grace also revealed that she recently went to the hospital, but was advised that she could not be assisted without the matter being reported to police.
She said a nurse advised that an X-ray could not be conducted unless the police were involved.
Grace also said she was worried about the police being present and that she did not feel safe. She said on the day she went to the hospital, four police officers arrived and this made her feel unsafe. “I don’t want them to wait around while I am being treated,” she said. Grace also said she was worried because some of the people who had the bullets removed ended up allegedly being harassed by the police.
Bullet
She also said she did not understand why the police needed to get the bullet. Grace also suggested that she would try another hospital where she would be assisted without being asked to have the police involved first.
Meanwhile, Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, the Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, said Grace should not be afraid to report her case so that she could be speedily assisted. Vilakati said she could even report the matter directly to the station commander who would ensure that she is assisted.
*Not real name