Cloetesville girl, 4, in hospital after shooting

A FOUR-YEAR meisie from Stellenbosch has been hospitalised after she was struck in crossfire of a gang-related shooting in Cloetesville on Sunday night. 

Theolita Jooste, the mother of four-year-old Leah Jooste, told Cape Argus that the bullet traveled from the neck to the eye.

Leah was shot while playing outside when she was caught in the middle of a shooting incident in North End Street.

A boy of seven was also struck in the arm and an adult man was shot in the foot when two assailants got out of a silver VW Polo and opened fire.  

The 32-year-old mom is grateful that her daughter is in a stable condition and is awaiting doctor's decisions now.

Theolita said: “She was playing outside and there were a whole lot of children in the gangetjie.

“They said the car drove past and stopped, two guys got out and started shooting, I don't know if they saw anyone they wanted.

“A man was shot in the foot. She's out of danger at the moment, I am waiting for the doctor.

“The bullet traveled from the neck to the eye.She has not had an operation yet. She has had a scan so far.

“She just wants me to be close to her, I am not leaving her side, she keeps saying: ‘Ek is dood geskiet’.” 

Cloetesville police have since arrested two men following the shooting.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed: “The members followed up on all the information they gathered on the whereabouts of the suspects, and their determination to bring the suspects to book was rewarded when they arrested them within two hours after the shooting incident occurred. 

The two suspects, aged 27 and 31, face charges of attempted murder.”

The suspects will appear in the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court once they have been formally charged.

Community leader Felicity Roland said that they would be opposing the men’s release on bail after gang shootings claimed a life on Friday.

She added: “Two innocent children have been shot, enough is enough. We need to fight against this evil here in Cloetesville. 

“We are planning to stand against these gangsters bail. They spend three months behind bars and then they are released due to no evidence and to commit more crimes.”