Father inconsolable after 5-year-old son was shot and killed during hijacking at Soshanguve

Ditebogo Phalane is devastated following the tragic loss of his five-year-old son, Ditebogo Jnr, who was fatally shot during a carjacking outside their residence in Soshanguve block UU on Friday night.

Ditebogo Phalane and his son

According to family spokesperson Gift Makoti, Phalane quickly transported his unconscious son to the nearest hospital, where, unfortunately, medical professionals pronounced the young boy deceased.

“He does say that the child was unresponsive when he took him to the hospital, hoping he would get help. The hospital could not save the boy and he was declared dead. At the moment the family is deeply distraught because it’s a young couple, they are in a state of shock and overwhelmed,” Makoti said.

Police spokesperson Lt-Col Mavela Masondo said they had opened a case of murder and hijacking and were searching for the suspects.

“An unconfirmed number of armed suspects allegedly hijacked the father’s White Toyota bakkie and shot the five-year-old boy who later died in hospital,” Masondo said.

The 33-year-old father of two boys, along with his partner, had recently celebrated the arrival of their third child, a daughter. Makoti revealed that the family had previously experienced a burglary in their home a few months ago, during which their car wheels were stolen.

“He doesn’t live in Soshanguve full time because of his work — he is in Polokwane and he comes home on Thursdays or Fridays. I am convinced these people knew his patterns, that he was coming back home,” he said.

Makoti said the child was a lovely boy who was always after his father and would jump into his car when his father arrived home.

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