Tsiamo Lebaka, the nine-year-old girl who was hit by a stray bullet during a violent clash between ANC and EFF supporters in Juju Valley, is still in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Pietersburg Provincial Hospital.
Juju Valley shooting: Latest updates on Tsiamo Lebaka
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According to reports, bullet fragments remain lodged in her skull, rendering her unable to speak, though she can open her eyes.
The incident occurred on Sunday, 19 May 2024, when Tsiamo was attending an EFF-organised sports event near her home in Seshego, Limpopo.
Eyewitnesses described the chaotic scene, with gunshots and stones flying as members of both political parties engaged in a violent confrontation.
Tebatso, a local woman, attempted to rescue Tsiamo amid the melee but was herself injured by a stone thrown by a man wearing an ANC T-shirt.
“There were gunshots all over the place. Stones flying from all directions as the angry comrades were brandishing guns and knobkieries. They also … had pangas, machetes and all sorts of dangerous weapons,” the woman told reporters.
The altercation coincided with a day of significant political activity in Juju Valley.
The ANC’s Peter Mokaba region had organised several events, including the handover of 47 gazebos and a door-to-door campaign, while the EFF was hosting a soccer tournament nearby.
The proximity of these events likely contributed to the tensions that erupted into violence, albeit both parties have distanced themselves from the shooting.
ANC Mayor filmed holding a gun amid shooting
Footage from the incident has surfaced, showing Polokwane Mayor John Mpe, also known as “DJ Makoro wa bana,” brandishing a firearm during the altercation.
The videos, widely shared on social media, depict two distinct groups: one wearing yellow ANC T-shirts and the other in red EFF T-shirts.
The situation escalated rapidly, with both sides throwing stones and eventually, gunshots being fired.
Limpopo Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba confirmed that police are investigating multiple cases of attempted murder related to the incident.
The gunfire resulted in severe injuries to Tsiamo and a 25-year-old man. Despite the seriousness of the injuries, no arrests have been made yet.