The family of six-year-old Solomon Mphaka is struggling to come to terms with his tragic death after he was struck by a stray bullet while playing near his home in Juju Valley, Seshego, Limpopo, last Friday.
The young Grade 1 learner was with friends when his mother heard a loud noise, only to find him collapsed and bleeding. Rushed to the hospital, doctors discovered a bullet lodged in his skull.
“The mother didn’t realize at first—she just saw the blood,” a family member said. “Now, our child is gone, and we don’t even know where the bullet came from.”
A Community in Fear
This is not the first time Juju Valley has faced such horror. In May 2023, a 10-year-old girl was also hit by a stray bullet during violent clashes between ANC and EFF supporters. Though she survived, fragments of the bullet remain in her head, leaving her with lasting cognitive difficulties.
“Sometimes she struggles to remember simple words,” her guardian explained. “She wants to be a doctor one day, but now she needs specialized care we can’t afford.”
Calls for Justice and Support
Residents are demanding a thorough police investigation into Solomon’s death, fearing more tragedies if no action is taken.
“We need answers,” a community member said. “The police must take this seriously.”
Both families are pleading for financial help—Solomon’s family for burial costs and for medical treatment.
As Juju Valley mourns, the repeated gun violence has left the community questioning their safety and pleading for an end to the murder and bloodshed.
