A young man says he almost lost his eye when he was allegedly shot in the face by a Law Enforcement officer.
In the early hours of Thursday, Lihle Siguba, 21, says he was standing next to his mother when he suddenly felt a severe pain around his eye.
He says officials were busy evicting illegal land invaders in Watergang, Kayamandi.
Mom Sizeka Siguba, 40, says: “I heard gunshots around midnight, and around 2am I went to check what was going on.
“I felt I had the right to know because I am a ward committee member.
“I asked what they were doing, and told them they are making it difficult for us to sleep.
“The officer didn’t give me any answers.”
She says she was just looking for answers and didn’t anticipate what would happen next.
“My son walked to where I was to see if I was OK. Few minutes later he was on the ground.”
Lihle says he was shot unprovoked: “They didn’t ask why we were there, they just shot at me. I fell on the ground and the police shot two more shots at my back.”
He claims while he was bleeding, he was kicked down a hill.
“I rolled down until I held on to a tree, I was so scared to get into the stream below.”
“People came to save me and I was taken to hospital.”
The family has laid a charge at the police station.
SAPS’ Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana confirms the matter is being investigated with no arrests yet.