The family of five-year-old Ditebogo Junior Phalane, who was shot and killed during a hijacking, is struggling to come to terms with his death.
This is according to family spokesperson Gift Makoti. The incident happened in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, on Friday night.
According to Makoti, the incident is still devastating for the family. He said the father of Ditebogo is inconsolable.
“The family is taking what happened terribly badly. The family is inconsolable. They do not know what to do. The community is aggrieved,” said Makoti.
“The police were here today, and they assured us that they are putting in extra resources to find the perpetrators behind this act.”
Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo said there were no developments in the case, adding that the police are searching for the boy’s killers.
Over the weekend, Masondo said the incident occurred when Ditebogo had allegedly gone out to welcome his father when he arrived home at about 10.30pm.
Politicians visit the family
“An unconfirmed number of armed suspects allegedly hijacked the father’s white Toyota bakkie and shot the five-year-old boy, who later died in the hospital,” said Masondo.
Masondo said the police are investigating a case of murder and hijacking.
On Monday, City of Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink, along with DA Gauteng premier candidate Solly Msimang, visited the Phalane family to pay respects.
On Sunday, EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and ActionSA Gauteng premier candidate Funzi Ngobeni visited the family to offer their condolences.
Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie took to the X platform on Sunday and offered a R250 000 reward to anyone who has information regarding Ditebogo’s murder.
“I will be giving a R250 000 reward to anyone with information about the guilty party. Please DM me personally here on Twitter. We must find them. I know someone knows who is responsible,” wrote McKenzie.
Makoti said radio host DJ Lamiez Holworthy contacted the family and offered to buy a tombstone for the five-year-old. He said the family is grateful for Holworthy’s assistance.
Crime-prevention imbizo
Meanwhile, Police Minister Bheki Cele and national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola are expected to visit the family on Tuesday morning.
They will also host a crime-prevention imbizo in Soshanguve, where they will outline policing interventions to combat violent crime in the area.
“The visit to the area will include a full, detailed briefing on crime pattern analysis of the policing district and a community engagement to announce urgent policing interventions to combat the escalating violent crime,” said Cele’s spokesperson, Lirandzu Themba.
The crime-prevention imbizo will take place at Block P Park in Jukulyn, Pretoria, at 12.30pm. This will be the second crime-prevention initiative in Jukulyn in a space of a month.
