A Philippi man says he wants justice after allegedly being shot by a soldier, causing him to lose a kidney and part of his liver.
The troops were chasing a suspect and shots were fired, one of which went through the corrugated iron of Vuyisa Sityebi’s shack, hitting him in his back.
The incident happened six months ago, on 19 February, and Vuyisa says the case is going nowhere.
He is demanding compensation as the incident has left him disabled and unable to work.
Vuyisa says on the day in question, he was eating breakfast inside his shack at around 10am when he heard gunshots.
He later learnt the army had been chasing a skelm who had just robbed the Philippi Plaza close to his home.
“I heard the gunshot, but I did not feel the bullet when it hit me, I just saw blood on my porridge bowl and I felt warmth around my stomach.
“I tried getting up, but it was difficult,” he says.
The 33-year-old says he vividly remembers soldiers in uniform standing over him as he tried to crawl to the door.
“I was then taken to the hospital where my right kidney was removed and a part of my liver was also cut. Doctors told me I will never work again unless I do light jobs,” he says.
He spent a month in hospital and was admitted again in March due to complications.
Vuyisa says the detective handling his case stopped answering his calls.
“The last I heard they were awaiting the results of a ballistic test on the bullet that hit me.
“I want justice, I want to be compensated for my injuries.
“I am unemployed and as a man, it is difficult accepting assistance from other people when I used to work for myself at a steel company.”
Vuyisa, who is unmarried and childless, says his family buys him groceries and toiletries as he has no income.
At the time, the SANDF was deployed on the Cape Flats to combat gangsterism.
Vuyisa says they caught the suspect, but has been released.
“That guy is back, I am not sure when he was released. The shooting changed my life, I cannot walk long distances now without getting tired,” he says.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana would not answer questions about why the case was dragging, only confirming that the matter was still under investigation.
The SANDF said they could not comment as the matter is subject to a police investigation.