The 5-year-old boy who was shot in the head in Manenberg has died.
Ameer Abrahams was walking to the shop with his father and baby sister when gangsters started shooting in Irvine Street on Monday.
He was declared brain dead, and on Tuesday morning, his family was told to prepare for the worst.
At about 11am, the life support machine was switched off at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.
His heartbroken aunt, Tasneem Benjamin, said they had hoped he would survive the shooting.
“The doctor prepared us for what was about to happen, at the end of the day it was not what the doctor said but the ultimate decision was with God, the creator,” said Benjamin.
“His dad couldn’t leave his side, he was very devastated, he took this very hard. The mother only came home to breastfeed her daughter and then went back to the hospital.”
She explained that on Monday, the boy’s father took him and his seven-month-old sister to the shop when the gunfire rang out.
“He had the baby in his arms, and the five-year-old was walking with his music box when the shooting started.
“He grabbed his son to get him out of the way but at the time he had already been shot. And he didn’t even notice that,” Benjamin said.
Benjamin said Ameer had been excited about starting school next week.
“He was going to start Grade R at Manenberg Primary. Ameer was a happy child, he talked a lot and loved Gqom music. Even when he was shot, he had his music box.”
The aunt said on Tuesday they heard that there were arrests.
“He gave himself up at Mitchell’s Plain police station. He sent someone to apologise on his behalf. The worst thing about this is that the shooter is known to us and knew Ameer.”
Police spokesperson, FC van Wyk, confirmed the arrests.
“Be advised that the 5-year-old boy died on Wednesday in hospital due to injuries sustained. The case docket will now be changed to murder and two counts of attempted murder for investigation.
“Three suspects aged 24, 26 and 31 were arrested on Tuesday by Anti-Gang Unit detectives. They are due to appear in court once charged.”
Manenberg Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairperson Vernon Visagie welcomed the arrests. “We can’t tolerate these senseless killings, it can’t be normal to live like this.”