"I'm out of hospital, back home with my mum and dad and baby sister, I want to thank you very much for all the messages of support, I feel like I have a big family all around the world sending me good wishes. My friends at school were surprised to see your messages and for that I told myself that I will get out of hospital and walk again." 25 August 2007
IANSA Africa coordinator's daughter shot
31 July 2007
A shocking event occurred on Tuesday 31 July: the 13-year-old daughter of IANSA's Africa Coordinator Joseph Dube was shot and severely wounded. Ntombifuthi Mbatha was shot in the back by a man armed with a pistol who was trying to steal the family's car. The bullet lodged next to her spinal column, requiring four hours of neurosurgery to remove it. Ntombi remains in critical condition in hospital.
The shooting occurred in an attempted 'carjacking' outside the family's home in Johannesburg, South Africa. Ntombi was in the car with her parents and her uncle, Joseph's brother. They had just returned from the funeral of Joseph's father. Two men attempted to steal the car, and may have planned to gain entry to the house. As the family tried to drive away, one man fired a shot into the car, hitting Ntombi in the lower back. The men then escaped. The police have recovered the bullet casing from the scene.
We do not yet know what long-term physical damage Ntombi will suffer, but the whole family has been severely traumatised by this awful event. This incident reminds us of the threat of gun violence faced by South Africans every day.
Joseph Dube is a long-time activist for gun control and well -known to many members throughout the global network. We send sympathy and best wishes to him and his family at this difficult time, and hope for Ntombi's swift recovery so she can run and play tennis again.
Send a message of support and solidarity by emailing ntombi@iansa.org
