A man from Philippi says he wants justice and adequate compensation after he was allegedly shot in the kidney by a soldier causing him to lose part of his kidney and liver.
According to the victim Vuyisa Sityebi, the SANDF members were chasing a suspect and they fired shots towards his iron shack injuring him in the process.
Despite his attempts to get his situation addressed, Vuyisa said the case has taken six months without any progress being made. He was shot on the 9th of February.
He wants to be compensated by the army as he claims he will not be able to work for thee rest of his life.
Vuyisa says he was eating breakfast in his shack when he heard gunshots around 10am as soldiers were chasing a robber who had just robbed a plaza in Philippi.
“I heard the gunshot, but I did not feel the bullet when it hit me, I just saw blood on my porridge bowl and I felt warmth around my stomach.
“I tried getting up, but it was difficult,” he says.
The 33-year-old says he remembers a soldier standing over him as he struggled to get up.
“I was then taken to the hospital where my right kidney was removed and a part of my liver was also cut. Doctors told me I will never work again unless I do light jobs,” he narrated to Daily Voice.
He was discharged after a month only to return again due to complications.
Vuyisa is not happy as his calls are being ignored by the detective handling his case.
“The last I heard they were awaiting the results of a ballistic test on the bullet that hit me.
“I want justice, I want to be compensated for my injuries.
“I am unemployed and as a man, it is difficult accepting assistance from other people when I used to work for myself at a steel company.”
Vuyisa is surviving from groceries handed out to him by family members as he cannot work for himself.
It was during the time when soldiers were deployed to Cape Flats to put an end to gangsterism. The suspect involved in the incident was caught and later released.
“That guy is back, I am not sure when he was released. The shooting changed my life, I cannot walk long distances now without getting tired,” he says.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana would not answer questions about why the case was still to be concluded, only confirming that the matter was still under investigation.
Asked for a comment, the SANDF said they could not comment as the matter is subject to a police investigation.
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