Farm workers were working on Thursday (12/12) when they heard gunshots and discovered that a man (59) had been shot in the hip, said Free State police spokesperson Mahlomola Kareli. He was rushed to the hospital, where he remains in a serious but stable condition.

Kareli said preliminary investigations led to the arrest of the suspect (18), the son of the farm owner who has been charged with attempted murder. He was set to appear in the Sasolburg Magistrate‘s Court on Tuesday. The firearm allegedly used in the incident was confiscated. 

The provincial Department of Social Development said it was “deeply disturbed” and “saddened” by the incident. The victim is identified as July Pakiso Dlamini.

Psycho-social support

The department claimed the suspect was a farmer who mistook the victim for a dog. “As the department, we condemn and combat any form of ageism in dealing with this case as it is a major reason why the abuse of older people receives so little attention,” said department spokesperson Thembile Nqabeni.

He said the department wished the victim a speedy recovery. “We urge all local authority, police, (and) community members to assist in the process of investigation and (ensuing) justice (prevails).”

The department would send officials and social workers to provide psycho-social support to the victim and his family.

Free State Older Persons Forum chairperson Joyce Mohlamme called on the Human Rights Commission to investigate allegations of what she termed “racism” linked to the incident. 

The ANC in the Fezile Dabi region, too, alleged racial motivations behind the shooting. Regional spokesperson Sello Peterson criticised the shooting, saying Dlamini was attending to his livestock at the time. 

‘Building a kraal’

“This incident, which was clearly racially motivated,” he claimed, ”took place as this elderly (sic) man was busy building a kraal for his herd (on) the commonage provided for by the government. To make matters worse, this shooting took place not far from the two initiation schools … sacred traditional and cultural places, and scores of our people who look after their cattle.”

Sello said the ANC was worried about “what has become a norm in our country, where white racist (sic) senselessly shoot at our people and claim to have mistaken them either for monkeys, pigs or dogs. Which is a clear sign of dehumanisation of black lives by these unrepentant racists (sic).”

• The headline and contents of this article have been amended to better reflects the events as reported to OFM News by the police.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg/mc