THABO Baloyi has now vowed to never smoke again.
HE went out around 11pm on Sunday, 9 October to buy cigarettes not far from his house.
As he was walking in Block MM in Soshanguve, north of Tshwane, four thugs approached him, two from the front and two from the back.
The thugs in front pointed a gun at him and shot him in the abdomen.
A second bullet hit his 4-5 and his cigarettes were left scattered on the tarred road.
He said the shooting was a blessing in disguise as he is a changed man.
“I am thankful to God for letting me live so I can turn my life around. I would have continued with my bad behaviour of smoking had I not gotten shot,” he said.
“I gave my life to Christ when I was fighting for my life at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Ga-Rankuwa. But I’m still worried about my 4-5 as it hasn’t responded since the incident,” he said.
He said he doesn’t believe he survived two close range bullets.
“I still fear to look at my injured 4-5 and I pray my manhood heals quickly,” he said.
Now that he is a changed man, Thabo said he will look after his family as his parents have since died.
Furthermore, he said he will start buying food for his sister and two nieces.
“My sister has suffered a lot, taking care of me while she is not working.
“I usually make more than R100 a day at the taxis, cleaning them. I used to use the money to feed my habit but not anymore,” said Thabo.
Asked if he had ever seen the thugs before, Thabo said he hadn’t.
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“They didn’t take anything as I was only carrying cigarettes. Do you know why I say the incident was a blessing in disguise? I would have continued to smoke until it kills me,” he said.
He said he wants the thugs arrested because they will harm other people.
Thabo’s sister, Cynthia (29), said she hopes her brother is indeed a changed man.
“This has been bothering me. His life was affecting me because he was associating with bad friends,” she said.
Gauteng Police spokeswoman Colonel Dimakatso Sello said: “An attempted murder case was opened at the police station and no suspects were arrested.”
