Cape Town – The police are hot on the heels of a suspect involved in a drive-by shooting that left a 6-year-old girl wounded in Bokmakierie, Athlone.
The shooting claimed the life of a 35-year-old man and another man aged 25 was wounded.
Brionay Julies, who started Grade 1 at Alicedale Primary this year, is recovering in the Red Cross Hospital after she was shot in the leg on Saturday just before 8pm.
Yesterday, Police Minister Bheki Cele said a suspect had been taken in for questioning but was released, and that the vehicle involved in the drive-by shooting had since been located and confiscated.
Speaking to the family, Cele said: “We have identified the man we want and now know who we are looking for. We’re in an abnormal situation where the government needs to come in and normalise the situation.
“You can’t blame yourself. Our kids can’t grow in a cage, it’s not right. Children should be allowed to play outside and to make friends. Everybody must be safe, but when it comes to kids, I believe an extra effort must be made,” Cele said.
Brionay’s father, John Julies, said they were happy with Cele’s visit, but felt that a lot had to be done for the safety of the community.
“I feel responsible for what happened to my daughter. I had sent Brionay to the shop close by our home for spices while my wife was making food.
"It must have been just at the time she came close to our front gate when returning from the shop that the shots rang out.
“It really isn’t safe here. I have never heard so many shots going off as the past weekend, we lost count,” he said.
Cele then visited Brionay at the Red Cross Hospital. He said they had been increasing police efforts around gang violence in the province.
“The fact is that we have been criss-crossing communities; we cannot be blamed for not doing anything. If efforts are made then certainly there will be results,” Cele said.
Police spokesperson Andre Traut said they were investigating a case of murder and attempted murder.
“The circumstances which left a 35-year-old man killed and three others aged 6, 25 and 27 wounded, are being investigated. The motive has yet to be established and the suspects have yet to be arrested,” Traut said.
Athlone Community Policing Forum spokesperson Aziza Kannemeyer said shootings in the area had “deteriorated quite significantly since December 1”.
“We have seen shootings every day, at a minimum every second day,” Kannemeyer said.
Anyone with information can anonymously contact Crime Stop at 0860 010111 or SMS Crime Line at 32211.