The mother of young Ona Dubula, who had a rubber bullet removed from under his tongue after he was shot by a Public Order Police officer during the Hout Bay protests, fears the long-term effects
the injury will have on his speech.
A video that went viral on social media shows a police officer shooting at the 14-year-old and two women at close range, as they take cover behind a bench as police dispersed protesters last week.
The footage sparked public outrage, and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) began an investigation into the incident and opened a case of attempted murder.
Phumeza Dubula said her son returned home this week from Groote Schuur Hospital after undergoing surgery last week.
“The doctors removed the rubber bullet from under his tongue, placing something there to help him, which they will remove later this month.
The doctors said he will have trouble saying ‘k’ and ‘x’ sounds, even clicking. I don’t know how someone can do this to another person, especially a child, and I hope the officials punish him,” said Dubula.
She said that after opening a case at the police station and being interviewed by Ipid,
she had not received any
further feedback.
Showing the wound from another rubber bullet that hit her son in the left rib, Dubula said she feared he would need specialist treatment for his speech and possibly have to be enrolled at a special
care school, which she can’t afford.
She said her son wanted to return to school soon, and they were now staying with relatives in the Mandela Park section of Imizamo Yethu, to be closer to services and transport if her son needed them.
Ona’s grandmother Nombulelo Dubula said she had come all the way from the Eastern Cape after her daughter called her from the hospital to tell her about the incident.
She said she could not believe her eyes when she was shown the video of Ona being shot at close range, and spitting blood out of his mouth, but felt she could now return
home after seeing the smile back on his face.
Police spokesperson Andre Traut said questions about the incident must be directed to Ipid. Ipid spokesperson Moses Dlamini could not be reached for comment by the time of publication.