Gang violence claims the life of a young boy in Tafelsig

A 12-year-old boy has died in hospital after he was shot during a gang crossfire in Tafelsig while he attempted collecting party packets for his younger siblings.

Moegamat Faizel Challis was shot while walking on the corners of Moira and Wendy Street in Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain on Thursday night and was collecting party packets for his siblings when gunmen opened fire on one another.

His uncle, Jodian Challis said the shooting took place metres away from where Moegamat Faizel lives. 

Jodian explained: “One of the people in the road passed away, so the family had the 40 nights according to the Islamic beliefs and they handed out party packets to the children. 

“Faizel received his party packet and came back to the house and said to his mother that he wants to take his two younger siblings, aged 7 and 5, to get their party packets as well. 

“His mother said she would take them to get their party packets herself, but Faizel was a very impatient child so he said he would walk ahead.

“The mother said she heard two shots and thought it was firecrackers because they were bursting firecrackers in the community but by the third shot they realised it was a gunshot. 

Challis was rushed to Mitchells Plain Day Hospital and was transferred to Red Cross Children’s Memorial Hospital.

“Faizel was still conscious and still spoke to his mom. When they got to Red Cross, they did a CT scan because the brain had swelling. He was put into an induced coma because they did not want the brain to have too much activity.

On Friday, my sister said that Faizel’s vitals are good and everything is good. At 12pm, the family was called to hospital because his condition had taken a turn for the worse. 

“We stood there as they did a series of tests but we could see he was already gone. On Friday around 6pm, my sister had to make the call to switch off the machine.”

Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed a case of murder and attempted murder was registered for further investigation as a 29-year-old was also shot in the leg and that the motive was believed to be gang related.

In a separate shooting yesterday a 17-year-old boy was shot and killed and two others wounded including a 14-year-old boy in Fabriek Street, Eureka Estate, Ravesmead while sitting inside a wendy house according to Van Wyk.

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