UPDATE:
The man arrested for allegedly shooting dead a nine-year-old boy by accident outside his home in Towerkop Road, Manenberg, was granted bail.
34-year-old Brandon Jacobs was released on R2 000 bail by the Athlone Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
The magistrate, Keith Lekeur, initially set bail at R5 000 but his legal aid lawyer said he could only afford to pay R800, reported News24.
Jacobs faces a charge of murder as well as possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition.
In his affidavit given to the police on the day of his arrest, Jacobs said he kept the gun for protection.
The affidavit was read out by the state.
The prosecutor said:
Around 12pm, the accused was selling drugs at the back of the yard where he resides. While standing there, he was in possession of a pistol for protection. He claims the firearm was faulty and, while he was cleaning and fiddling with it, the deceased, who was playing outside the gate, was shot by the bullet from the firearm.
In addition to his bail being set at R2 000, Jacobs was given a set of conditions:
- He has to report to the Elsies River police station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 9am and 9pm.
- He has to reside at an alternative address.
Jacobs said he would be staying with his uncle. News24 previously reported that the family of the boy confirmed that the accused had occasically lived with them.
In court, it was hear that Jacobs handed himself over to the police, told them where they could find his firearm and made a ‘full confession’.
It was also heard that he is unmarried, had no dependents, as well as no prior convictions or pending cases against him.
The case was postponed to Monday, 4 September, for further investigations.
The Anthony family said they were preparing for Tiano’s funeral on Saturday in Manenberg.
A nine-year-old boy lost his life after being shot outside his home on Towerkop Road, Manenberg, on Sunday. Tiano Anthony, the young victim, succumbed to his injuries and passed away at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital on Monday night.
According to News24, local residents allege that the suspect, who had resided at the property, admitted to the shooting, claiming it was an accidental discharge while cleaning his firearm.
Western Cape police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed that the boy suffered a gunshot wound to the head. Van Wyk disclosed that a 34-year-old male has been detained for questioning, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Also read: Burned toddler: woman to appear in court on Friday
Vernon Visagie, the chairperson of the Manenberg Community Policing Forum (CPF), stated that the incident was unrelated to gang activity.
When the CPF visited the family following the news of the shooting, they noticed an abnormal atmosphere within the house. Visagie reportedly remarked that there was an absence of sorrow as if it were just an ordinary day.
‘There was no sadness. It felt like just a normal day,’ he said.
Claims arose that the family initially tried to protect the arrested man, but he eventually confessed to the shooting, asserting that the firearm went off unintentionally during cleaning.
Visagie expressed sadness over the incident and hoped that the police would uncover the truth behind the unintentional discharge
‘It’s quite sad what took place here, and we hope the police will get to the bottom of what really happened when that shot went off,’ he said.
According to the CPF, the house where the incident occurred was known for drug-related activities. In a separate operation, members of the Anti-Gang Unit reportedly raided the house and discovered drugs and a sum of money. An insider from the police alleged that initially, the family fabricated a story blaming a rival gang for the shooting.
When contacted by News24, the family reportedly declined to provide any comments.
Reagen Allen, the Western Cape Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC, expressed anger and frustration over the incident. He emphasised the importance of holding those responsible for this tragic murder accountable. The MEC cited statistics indicating that 39 children were murdered in the province during the 4th quarter of the 2022–23 financial year, covering the period from January to March 2023.
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Picture: Scott Rodgerson / Unsplash