A 14-YEAR-OLD boy was killed and another (16) hospitalised after being shot at by an alleged trigger-happy gunman during the New Year's celebration while cracking fireworks.
Witnesses revealed that it happened so fast on 'Satan', the busiest Street in Thulamahashe, Mpumalanga.
Shocked bystanders and neighbours told Daily Sun that the festive atmosphere quickly turned grim at midnight when the excited crowd gathered on the street and around parked cars, engaging in celebration and drinking.
They said at 00:00 am as the kasi was abuzz and cracking fireworks to welcome and celebrate the new year, they spotted two boys fall from gunshots in the chest.
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"We tried to call the police and paramedics, but it was already too late. The second boy died from the bullet wound which hit straight into his heart," said one of the bystanders.
A neighbour described the street as a danger zone due to the presence of excited and drunk youth.
"The boozing youth excitedly cracked fireworks and celebrated the new year. So you couldn't differentiate the sound of the gun and fireworks. Their happiness ended in pain. The two boys were lying in a pool of blood in a twink of an eye.
Mandla Ndlovu, Mpumalanga ANC chairman and Public Works MEC, strongly condemned the incident.
During a visit to some of the injured victims at Tintswalo Hospital in Acornhoek on 1 January, Ndlovu urged residents to exercise caution during celebrations and avoid associating with unfamiliar individuals.
"You should not allow people that you don't know and that had never taken alcohol with with. Such a person, you don't know how he or she's going to behave under influence of alcohol, as some behave differently," he said.
Mpumalanga police spokesman Colonel Donald Mdhluli confirmed the police investigation into the incident, classifying it as a case of murder with an additional charge of attempted murder.
"Two people are suspected to have been shot then taken for medical treatment whereby one, aged 14 was certified dead upon arrival at the nearby clinic whilst the second victim is being treated for gunshot wounds," he said
Mdhluli said cops are actively in pursuit of the suspect(s), no arrests have been made yet.
He urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or use the MYSAPSAPP, ensuring that all received information will be treated confidentially, with the option to remain anonymous.
