A Manenberg laaitie is lucky to be alive after he got caught in the crossfire of rival gangs while playing with his five-year-old
sister on Saturday afternoon.
The shooting between the Americans and Jesters gangs had scared children running for their lives and the army was called in to skut uit gang houses.
The family of Raygaan Erasmus, 7, say he was shot in the left thigh and his worried mom insisted on X-rays as he had hurt that leg before.
OUCH: Raygaan Erasmus, 7, geskiet
Mom Rashieda, 34, says kids were playing near Ondine Court shortly before 5pm.
“He was with his sister Zeenat. They were just here in front and they started shooting,” she says.
“All the children got a fright and started running. I shouted for them and then I saw him, and he shouted: ‘ Eina, mummy, hulle het my geskiet’.”
Rashieda ran with her child in her arms to a relative who took them to Heideveld Emergency Centre.
Acting Manenberg Police Station commander, Colonel Sanela Zama, says the skollies fled.
He called on residents to piemp the shooters, adding: “Gangs are cowards and don’t care about anything or anybody while they carry out their cowardly acts and the community lives in fear.”
Rashieda says on Monday morning the shooter had the nerve to come to her house.
Boy shot in leg. Picture: Monique Duval
“He came here asking maaf to Raygaan, saying he didn’t mean to shoot the child. But there were so many children outside, why did they shoot in the first place? Zeenat is so traumatised she cries all the time.”
Anyone with information of the shooting can call Manenberg cops on 021 699 9400.
ALERT: Cops, army on patrol in Manenberg.