Johannesburg - A five-year-old boy who was stabbed several times on Sunday evening during a botched hijacking, is in a stable condition.
The Star on Tuesday spoke to the boy’s grandmother, Marta Venter, who said he was doing well.
“We have no idea how long he will be in hospital for, but he is coming along.”
Ricardo Pugi and his son were hijacked by three men in Sunward Park, Boksburg, at about 7pm on Sunday evening.
Provincial police spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini told The Star that Pugi, the owner of the vehicle, was driving when he was approached by three suspects when he stopped at a red traffic light.
“They blocked his vehicle and pointed a firearm at him. He was then pushed out of the vehicle and the suspects drove away with the vehicle while his son was inside,” he said.
The vehicle was later found abandoned and the 5-year-old was found by his father near a rubbish dump not far from the car.
The child was allegedly stabbed twice in the chest and once in the stomach. Pugi’s cellphone and his son’s schoolbag were stolen.
Venter’s husband Danie has called for the arrest of the men who stabbed his grandson. He told Eyewitness News: “I wish I could get hold of these men and I will treat them how they treated my grandson. I am going to hunt them, I don’t care what the government says, I don’t care what Zuma says.”
Dlamini said no arrests had been made but that a manhunt was under way to find those responsible.
“We appeal to anyone who has information to come forward,” Dlamini added.
“He’s stable for now, he’s a very strong boy, they pulled him through, but if they hadn’t found him, he would not have survived,” Danie said.
* The Star, because of the sensitivity of the case and to avoid further trauma, has decided not to name the child or publish his photo.
The Star