A 5-year-old boy was succumbed to shooting injuries after he was shot outside his home in Soshanguve outside Pretoria last night. Ditebogo Phalane Jr had run outside when he heard his father, Ditebogo Silas Phalane arriving home at around 10pm. Hijacker who were targeting his father's bakkie shot him and made away with the car.
The father's cousin confirmed the news on X this morning in a post. "My cousin was hijacked hours ago in Soshanguve block UU, they took his bakkie. He was with his son, and they shot the 5-year-old. He didn't make it," the cousin Gift Makoti wrote. The father, Ditebogo Silas Phalane survived the incident. Gauteng SAPS spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo confirmed the incident.
What has this country come to now!!!!!???! That's a CHILD man!!!!!!My cousin was Hijacked hours ago in Soshanguve block Uu, they took his Bakkie. He was with his son, they shot the 5yr old boy!! He didn't make it!! ??????
— Gift Makoti (@Gift_Makoti_) May 11, 2024
What has this country come to now!!!!!???! That's a CHILD man!!!!!!! https://t.co/ODc9tFxWHg pic.twitter.com/3EyN8DHF2z
Masondo said the police have launched a manhunt for the suspects. "Police are on the lookout for suspects who allegedly shot a 5-year-old child as they were hijacking his father in Soshanguve on Friday evening. The child was taken to hospital, where he was certified dead on arrival," Masondo said. He added" "It is reported that the father was arriving home at home driving a white Toyota bakkie when the child went out to welcome him home. An unconfirmed number of armed suspects allegedly hijacked the father of his bakkie and shot the five-year-old boy who later died in hospital," he said. Masondo said the police have opened a case of murder and hijacking for investigation.
