A journey home from school was nothing ordinary for some school children when one of their own caught a stray bullet to the head.
Siphelele Mhlanga (7) of Phola Township in Nhlangano was shot while aboard a kombi, in full view of other children in the same vehicle.
The incident happened along the road at Jabulani at around 2:30pm on Wednesday, as confirmed by Deputy Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni. She said an investigation into the matter was ongoing.
The minor is admitted at Mbabane Government Hospital where she is fighting for her life in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
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An eyewitness and Phola community police Mpendulo Dlamini said he was driving from Jabulani to Phola and was following the public transport kombi that ferried school children.
He said he saw the kombi abruptly stop in the middle of the road, and the conductors hailing him to stop.
When he got closer, Dlamini said he saw the girl sprawled on the ground bleeding profusely.
Information gathered was that the stray bullet, which was later found on the scene, came on the conductor’s side. Sources said the conductor reported that he heard a crackling sound of shattering glass, and acting on reflexes, ducked down.
It was then that sources said the bullet hit Siphelele in the head and rippled through the other side. The community police reportedly advised the conductor and driver to leave the other children at the scene and rush the injured Grade II pupil of Mlambo Primary School to Nhlangano Health Centre, which they did.
However, Siphelele was referred to Hlatikulu Government Hospital before the Mbabane Government Hospital where she underwent an operation.
A close relative confirmed the minor’s injury. She said what was puzzling was the fact that the direction from where the bullet came from had no nearby trees and buildings that could be used by a shooter to hide. For this, the relative suspected that maybe a high calibre firearm had been used.
She also said the family wondered if the bullet was meant for either the driver or conductor.
“Even if they were the targets, who would decide to launch an attack on them during that time of day as they were known to be ferrying customers? wondered the relative.
Likewise, the girl’s mother Khetsiwe Baartjies said she was devastated. She said she was at work, at one of the textile firms in Nhlangano, when she received the news that her daughter had been shot.
Meanwhile, Mlambo Primary School Headteacher Tengetile Dlamini said they were still tongue-tied. Shiselweni Local Kombi Association Chairman Thabani Nhleko said they were shocked by the incident. Their prayers were with the family of the pupil, and wished her a speedy recovery.
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