A girl was killed by a stray bullet near her Beacon Valley school. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane, Independent Newspapers
CAPE TOWN - A turf war between two Cape gangs, the 28s and the Nice Time Kids, in Beacon Valley has resulted in the death of a young girl who was struck by a stray bullet at her school.
The Ieglaasi Nieyah school learner was outside her class when she was hit by the bullet on Tuesday morning.
Parents rushed to fetch their children from the school and neighbouring schools after the shooting incident.
The woman who normally transports the 12-year-old victim to school said she was standing in front of the girl when she was shot.
As the woman walked out of the school, where the family of the victim were, she couldn’t hold back her tears.
She had a bloody tracksuit top in her hands. The woman said: “She (the girl) was standing in front of me and then I saw her collapse. I was at the school to fetch the children after a message said the area was a red zone.”
Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Reagen Allen said the incident angered him deeply.
“This is yet another young life unnecessarily taken from us. My sincere condolences go to the family, loved ones, fellow learners and staff at the school. My prayer is that they will find comfort in their pain. These barbaric individuals must be caught.”
Allen called on the community to immediately come forward with information so that the perpetrators can be arrested.
“I urge the SAPS, given that the shooting is alleged to be gang-related, to initiate the Prevention of Organised Crime Act in this instance.
“It has to be established where the firearms and ammunition come from, as the suppliers should also be charged.
“I remind residents that they can earn up to R5,000 when they report the whereabouts of illegal firearms. All they have to do is contact 021 466 0011 and, on successful confiscation, arrest and conviction, R5,000 will be theirs.”
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm Pojie said the 12-year-old was fatally wounded when shot in the head by a stray bullet.
“The Anti-Gang Unit was on the scene. We are pursuing all leads to get behind what happened.
“The girl was on the school premises when she was killed.”