A grandmother was about to treat her grandson to a Saturday morning Wimpy breakfast when a shoot-out happened at the Randpark-Ridge shopping centre north of Joburg, according to a report on Monday.
Eben Brits, the father of the 23-month-old boy, told Beeld newspaper that his parents and son were making their way to the Wimpy when chaos erupted.
His father, Neels, 57 was carrying Benjamin when the gang of nine robbers burst out of the NWJ jewellery shop and opened fire, hitting the child and his grandmother, Rina, who was walking beside her husband.
Rina Brits, who owns the jewellery shop that was targeted, was shot in her left foot.
Benjamin Brits was also shot in his left foot, and he and his grandmother were taken to the Olivedale Clinic for treatment.
According to Eben Brits, Benjamin's ankle bone was “slightly” splintered.
“The wound and damage to his left foot will take four to six weeks to heal. He'll have to learn to walk again from scratch after he's recovered,” Brits told Beeld newspaper.
His mother Rina's wound was more serious.
“One of the bones in her foot was cracked and had to be repaired with a screw. A number of little bones in her left foot also shattered, and could not be repaired,” said Brits.
The pair was expected to be discharged from hospital on Monday.
Another shopper, a 47-year-old man, and a police officer were also shot and wounded by the robbers.
The police woman was hit in the shoulder while chasing the robbers. She is in a stable condition in hospital.
The man was treated on the scene.
Four of the robbers were expected to appear in court on Monday. – Sapa