An Athlone mom is taking on Mitchells Plain police for gunning down her son in the street and leaving him to bleed at the back of a police van.
The shooting in Tafelsig was captured on a video showing Llewellyn Burns, 20, lying on the pavement after he was shot in the back.
Mom Juanita Anderson, 39, says she got a skrik when the police opened fire and arrested her as she tried to get to her son.
“It happened last Tuesday in Kilimanjaro Street outside his ouma’s house where he lives,” she explains.
“The day before, he was attacked by gangsters who tried to force him to join their gang.
“They came to his grandmothers house and threw stones at the house and she wanted me to get him.
“She called the police for help on Monday night and they never came.
“On Tuesday I arrived to fetch him as I was taking him to work with me, to see if we can get a job for him, when police arrived.”
She says the family thought officers were coming to take a statement from the ouma, but instead they opened fire on Llewellyn and he collapsed.
“I was in such shock and kept asking why they shot him.
“Then the police woman held a gun to my head and threw both of us in the van and drove with us for almost 40 minutes as he was bleeding.”
The traumatised mother says her child was taken to hospital while she was kept in a holding cell and appeared in court two days later for allegedly interfering with an arrest.
She went to the police station to report the shooting but says she was turned away.
She then took to social media and DA Member of Parliament, Reagen Allen, stepped in to assist.
“I was tagged in the post and assisted by helping them get the case registered,” he says.
“I was informed by Ipid that the shooting was recorded and they were waiting for the docket from Mitchells Plain police.
“I will be following this closely and will be interested to see if they actually have evidence of the alleged imitation firearm with his fingerprints on it.”
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk confirms an attempted murder case has been opened and says: “This case is in response to an incident on 12 October at 8.05am in Tafelsig.
“The injured male was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
“The suspect was arrested on charges relating to possession of an imitation firearm, possession of drugs and attack on police.
“The female suspect (after assaulting a female police officer) was arrested on charges relating to hindering police in execution of their duty and an attack on police.
“The case against the male was provisionally withdrawn as he was hospitalised.
“The case will be placed on the court roll when he is discharged.”
Juanita denies attacking the officer and says she believes they have trumped up the charges against her.
“I did not hit her, I was trying to get to my child.
“I will fight them in court,” she vows.
Ipid spokesperson, Grace Langa, says the case has not yet been reported to them.