Crime
Gauteng Cops grab 40-year-old woman after child was shot under his armpit
The dusty streets of Chris Hani in Hammanskraal, north of Tshwane, are filled with a heavy silence following a weekend of absolute horror.
What was supposed to be a normal Saturday afternoon of laughter and games ended in a bloodbath that has left a family shattered and a community demanding answers.
Five-year-old Obakeng Minyuku, a boy with his whole life ahead of him, was shot dead on Saturday, 24 January.
The little boy was reportedly playing with his friends, enjoying the weekend sunshine, when the unthinkable happened.
TRAGEDY IN THE STREETS
Eyewitnesses described a scene of chaos and panic after a single gunshot rang out through the neighborhood.
While the children were busy with their games, Obakeng was suddenly struck by a bullet. The projectile hit the young boy under his right armpit, causing him to collapse in front of his playmates.
Frantic residents and family members didn’t wait for an ambulance. They rushed the bleeding child to a local clinic, praying for a miracle.
However, the wound was too severe. Obakeng died before he could reach the clinic doors, leaving his loved ones in a state of inconsolable grief.
THE ARREST
The police at Temba station did not waste any time in their hunt for the person responsible for the trigger.
By Sunday, 25 January, detectives had followed leads that led them straight to a 40-year-old woman who lives in the same neighborhood.
The woman, a neighbor to the family, was handcuffed and taken into custody. She has been officially charged with murder.
While the exact details of how the gun went off remain part of the investigation, the suspect was hauled to the Moretele Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 27 January, to face the music.
COPS SEND STERN WARNING
The SAPS has expressed total outrage over the incident. Law enforcement officials have labeled the shooting as horrific and completely unacceptable, especially as it claimed the life of such a vulnerable citizen.
Police spokesperson confirmed that a murder docket is being handled by Temba SAPS. They have also issued a stern warning to all licensed firearm owners.
Cops reminded the public that owning a gun comes with massive responsibility, and unsafe firearm handling will lead straight to a jail cell.
As the Minyuku family prepares to bury their little angel, a neighbor sits behind bars, waiting to explain to a magistrate how a child’s playtime ended in a funeral.
