An eight-year-old boy from the area was injured after he was shot with rubber bullets, allegedly by mine security Wednesday afternoon. Upon OFM News' arrival at the scene, the boy and his mother were being taken to a local hospital by an ambulance. 

He was apparently playing outside at the time of the incident. Residents say circumstances are terrible where they live, which has increased when a mining rights dispute saw them evicted by the mine from the land they were occupying. They pointed out rubber bullets, that were cordoned off with police tape, outside one of the shacks. 

Kimberley Ekapa Mining joint venture spokesperson, Gert Klopper, explained that mine security was pelted with stones by members of the community, including children, wanting to gain access to mine there illegally. He denied that there was any intent. 

Police spokesperson, Dimakatso Mooi, said the police were also investigating three cases of attempted murder involving the shooting of two community members and another who allegedly had a petrol bomb thrown at him.

OFM News/Sandy Kwon Hoo