The Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga has strongly condemned the shooting of an innocent child in Gelvandale and has vowed that police will not rest until the perpetrators are arrested. “We condemn such callous attack in the strongest possible way,’ added Lieutenant General Ntshinga.
It is alleged that on 2 April 2019, at about 14:15, the 3 year old boy was with his father in their yard in Martin Street in Helenvale when the child was caught in the crossfire between rival gangs. The child sustained a bullet wound to his upper body. He was rushed by private transport to hospital.
This is the second incident this week where children are caught in crossfires between rival gangs. On Saturday, 29 March 2019, 12 year old Alvineesha Brookes was fatally wounded in Buys Street, Bloemendal in Bethelsdorp. Enrico Gerwel (21) was arrested the following day and appeared in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court on 2 April 2019. The case is remanded to 4 April 2019 for a formal bail application.
The Provincial Commissioner has summoned a 72-hour Activation Plan comprising of members from various specialised units to hunt down the perpetrators of the 3 year old boy. A case of attempted murder is under investigation.
Police are calling on the community of Helenvale to work with the police and not to harbour these criminals. Any information relating to this incident may be communicated to 10111 or Crime Stop 08600 10111 or Detective Warrant Officer Neville Gouws of the Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit (Gang Investigations) may be contacted on 082 387 5904.
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