Lichtenburg - The 15-year-old boy, who was shot dead during a protest in Blydeville, has been named as Spencer Tshukudu.
Speaking exclusively to the African News Agency (ANA) the deceased's father, Willem Mothoki, 41, said he last saw his son on Tuesday when he went to work.
Community members were in the streets protesting against the slow response from the government to their demands for affordable housing, a 24-hour clinic and a school. During the protests, a truck was torched and there were running battles between the police and the protesters.
"I found him at the street and told him to go home. I went to work. I was later told he had been shot dead," lamented Mothoki.
The dead boy's mother, Dorah Tshukudu, 45, was sobbing and was unable to speak. Between sobs, she repeatedly calling out her son's name.
Joseph Esemang, who said he was a witness to the shooting told ANA the teenager was not part of the protest. He was simply alerting drivers of the blocked roads.
Spencer Tshukudu's mother, Dorah Tshukudu, 45, is comforted by her elder sister Elsie Morobe. Video: Molaole Montsho/ANA
He said he saw a "white man" driving a Fiat van. The man stopped, got out his car and shouted in Afrikaans: "Ek gaan julle dood skiet, [I am going to shoot you dead]" and fired three shots at Tshukudu and two others.
"A bullet grazed the first boy on his side, another on his arm and Spencer was hit above on the forehead," said Esemang, who claimed the shooter fired straight into the boys "without firing a warning" and then fled the scene in his car, which he drove around Spencer as he lay on the road.
On Wednesday community members were up in arms demanding justice even though the alleged shooter has been arrested.
Explaining what the initial protest was about, community leader, Philip Lottering, said residents were angered by the slow response from government relating to health, housing and education.
Blydeville community leader Philip Lottering says all the problems government promised to resolve six months ago have not been attended to. Video Molaole Montsho/ANA
"In April the community wanted a clinic that operates 24 hours, low-cost houses and a school. A task team was formed and informed the community that their issues will be addressed, but now six months down ... nothing was done."
On Tuesday irate community members gathered on the Lichtenburg-Coligny road demanding that North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo address them. They burnt tyres and pelted police with stones.
Blydeville residents block the Lichtenburg-Coligny road on Wednesday. They want North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo to address them about their grievances. Picture: Molaole Montsho/ANA
Matters took a turn for the worst when shots were fired at the protesters. North West police said a 46-year-old suspect had handed himself in at a police station in Lichtenburg on Tuesday night.
"The suspect arrived at the police station accompanied by his legal representative," said Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone. The suspect is expected to appear in the Lichtenburg Magistrate's Court on Thursday to face a charge of murder and two counts of attempted murder.