*WARNING: Video contains graphic content which may upset sensitive readers.
Police have opened a case of attempted murder after a mother, who had recently given birth, was shot in the breast with a rubber bullet.
A video has gone viral showing the woman with her bloodied breast being rushed to hospital.
The woman had been inside her home in Netreg on Wednesday when cops chased a suspect who had apparently dropped drugs in someone’s backyard.
A neighbour, who is also a community worker, but asked not to be identified, says the woman had innocently gone outside to see what was happening.
“Someone threw a button (mandrax tablet) over the wall so the police told this person to jump over the wall and get it.
“He jumped over two fences and went missing.
“She opened her gate to see what was happening.
“As she opened the gate, the police shot her in her breast.
“She is still breastfeeding and lives with her mother.”
PAIN: The Netreg mom shortly after she was shot in her breast by SAPS officers
The injured woman was rushed to hospital by a neighbour who had filmed the rubber bullet lodged in her bloody breast.
“This is what SAPS do to people, they just shot a lady through her breasts and she just gave birth a week or two weeks ago,” a man can be heard saying.
“You people think this is right, look here. Daar is daai bullet nog.”
The wounded woman, holding a towel against her bleeding breast, is heard saying: “ Mammie, kyk hoe lyk my tet.”
The man continues: “Is that right, they shot that lady through her breasts now, SAPS, is that right?”
The Daily Voice approached the woman for an interview, but she said she was not ready to speak about her ordeal.
According to Ward Councillor Theresa Thompson, the mother is badly traumatised.
“She feels scared. She said she had to be at hospital again (yesterday) morning and is aware that the media wants to speak to her, but she is not comfortable to speak now,” Thompson says.
TRAUMA: Theresa Thompson
Police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana confirms a case of attempted murder has been opened for investigation, but would not say whether the suspects are police officers.
“A 29-year-old woman was shot and transported to a medical facility for treatment,” she said.
“The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation with no arrests so far.”