The Witness KZN’SKZN’S DARKESTDARKEST HOURHOUR TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021 R9,20 (incl vat) RAMAPHOSA Ntando Ndlovu (15), from Mpumelelo in CALLS FOR the France township was shot and killed END TO RIOTS on Monday. Teen shot dead SUPPLIED CLIVE NDOU President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday called for calm in the face of the instability caused by the looting and destruction of prop- erty. Addressing the nation yesterday evening, Ramaphosa said the government was doing everything in its power to restore order and stability. It was important, Ramaphosa said, for the govern- ment to protect South Africans and their assets. “It is vital that we prevent any further loss of life or injury, or during unrest destruction of valuable infrastructure and property that sustains the lives of our people. “We are, therefore, mobilising all available resources and ca- pacities to restore order in our country. As commander-in-chief of the SA National Defence Force, and of our security forces, I Bystanders threaten police officer after rubber bullet fatally strikes boy (15) have authorised the deployment of the defence force personnel in support of the of the SA Police Service,” he said. Ramaphosa, who approved the deployment of the army in NOMPILO KUNENE shot, he wasn’t even on the Southgate Spar shot on the knee. responding,” she said. people didn’t break-in to the shops but I’m KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng after mobs claiming to be aligned property anymore, he was on the road out- “Security guards wearing camouflage The teenager said the boy died a short sure it’s just a matter of time because the to an ANC faction calling for the release of former president Ja- A teenage boy died after he was shot with side, but he was still killed. uniform came and started throwing teargas. while later while waiting for an ambulance. police are outnumbered.” cob Zuma, said the current violence has already cost lives, and a rubber bullet during unrest at Southgate “We want justice for his death. When “We couldn’t breathe. I tried to run but The girl’s grandfather, who also asked “I am grateful that my daughter is safe that the government has to stop it before more lives were lost. Spar in Pietermaritzburg yesterday morn- President Ramaphosa spoke, he said people one security guard grabbed me and threw that his name not be published, told The despite being traumatised, but I feel sorry “The path of violence leads to more violence and devastation. ing. must be arrested, not killed,” said Mpande. me on the floor.” Witness that he was not aware that his for that boy’s family,” he said. We have to prevent any further loss of life. Ntando Ndlovu (15), from Mpumelelo in He described Ntando, who went to Mvu- The girl said there were about 40 other granddaughter had wandered off and was In a video seen by The Witness, a handful “I would like to be clear, we will take action to protect every the France township, which is about 5 km zo High School, as a lovely child who always people who were made to lie down on the at Spar. of men are seen confronting a police officer person in this country against violence, intimidation, theft. away from the Spar, was shot in the chest had a smile on his face. ground. “She left while I was taking a bath. I called who they allege was the one who shot the “We will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute those who per- and died a short while later. “I was coughing, and my eyes were burn- her when I realised she was not at home teenager. petrate these actions,” he said. Ntando’s uncle, Sibongiseni Mpande, ‘I could see the round ing. I tried telling the security guards that and when she answered she was crying but The men are heard asking the man why About 500 people in both KZN and Gauteng have been ar- told The Witness that they were also bullet inside his chest’ the boys were shot but one guard hit me she told me where she was so I rushed there. he killed the boy, and one is heard telling rested in connection with the ongoing violence accompanied by shocked that the boy was at Southgate Spar. A 14-year-old girl, who cannot be named be- with the big gun on my back,” said the girl. “When I got there I saw a tiny body cov- the officer that he also has a gun and that looting and destruction to property. He said he suspects that Ntando had seen cause she is a minor, told The Witness that She said the security guards finally al- ered up. My heart stopped, I thought it was he is not afraid to shoot the officer. Ramaphosa said the government was engaging sectors of so- a crowd going to Spar and also followed, she had met the Ntando outside Spar just lowed her to get up and go to the boy who her. I went to the body and uncovered the In what looks like an attempt to explain ciety, including religious, traditional and political leaders in its but he said the people at Spar told the family a few minutes before he was shot. had been shot on the chest. face and saw that it was actually a small boy. that he did not use live ammunition, the attempt to restore peace and stability. that Ntando had told them that he was there She stays in the Westgate area, which is “Before the boy was shot, he told me his I looked up and saw my granddaughter at officer is seen taking out his service pistol While the President was optimistic that the current instability to buy bread. across the road from Southgate Spar. The name and age. He said he was from Mpume- a distance. and counting the bullets in the magazine would soon be a thing of the past, he however, made it clear “It looks like he was shot twice, and peo- incident happened at about 11.30 am. lelo in France and had walked all the way “Her hands were covered in blood. She to prove to the men that he did not use it that the problem could be complex as it has never happened ple were telling us that he was shot with The girl said she was standing in the park- here with his brother and friends. told me that a neighbour had asked her to to shoot the boy. since the advent of democracy in 1994. live ammunition and not rubber bullets. We ing lot next to the boy who was shot, along “It felt like I knew him already, so I wanted accompany her to Spar and then her friend When approached for comment, national “This is not us. As South Africans we have always chosen the don’t know for sure because the police have other children, as they watched people who to help him. He was lying on the ground, was shot.” police spokesperson, Colonel Brenda Muri- path of peace and dialogue, and not violence,” he said. not told us anything,” said Mpande. were trying to break down the doors that and I could see the round bullet inside his The man said the residents were angry dili, said the update on yesterday’s protests The violent protests currently sweeping across the KZN prov- He said the family, especially Ntando’s lead into the Spar centre. chest. I tried to take it out but I couldn’t about the boy’s death. He said they were in the country would be part of the Presi- ince, devastating cities and towns, happen a few days after Zu- mother, were distraught about the incident. “The police came and started shooting because he was bleeding a lot. referring to the policeman who shot the boy dent’s address last night, and that the police ma’s arrest for defying a ConCourt order directing him to ap- “Who shoots an unarmed child like that, rubber bullets. The boy next to me got shot “Another girl had a bottle of water and by name. will not be reporting on individual incidents pear before the Zondo Commission investigating state capture. he wasn’t carrying anything. When he was on the chest and [another] younger boy was we tried making him drink, but he wasn’t “The situation is very tense here. The • [email protected] Malls which have been affected in the province include Piet- ermaritzburg’s Brookside Mall, Edendale Mall, and Durban’s Mega City Mall in Umlazi, Springfield Park and the Isithebe Business Park in Mandini. Businesses in Pietermaritzburg, Howick, Rich- mond and other Midlands towns have suffered enormous loss- es. While Ramaphosa acknowledged that poverty and unem- IFP, DA call on Zikalala to say how ANC will restore calm ployment has a role to play in the current looting of shops, he criticised those engaging in “lawlessness”, saying that the violent protests would breed more poverty. CLIVE NDOU ty’s Zuma faction. president Jacob Zuma is being treated,” he ers, as well as the torching of infrastructure, “Not only must he share this information “What is happening now has nothing to said. we also sympathise with KwaZulu-Natal cit- with party leaders, he must also reassure the The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has maintained do with president Jacob Zuma — they are However, opposition parties were ada- izens across the political spectrum, who citizens of our province that he and his ANC it is not aware of any of its members who acts of criminality by a section of communi- mant that the violent protests have every- find themselves entangled in the factional leadership will put their needs first,” he said.