BENNY Booysen junior was shot four times in a robbery in his home at Rietvlei Zoo Farm on Wednesday evening, October 2.
Benny was at home with his son Matthew (14) and Matthew’s friend when the shooting occurred. His wife, Samantha, and their two other children were in Pretoria at a trampolining competition.
“Benny was in the lounge and Matthew was watching TV in his bedroom. His friend was in the bath and when he came back into Matthew’s bedroom he saw two men looking through the window and shouted at Matthew. Matthew ran through to Benny and he jumped up to close the sliding lounge door. The four suspects, all armed, began shooting at him and Benny shouted to the boys to run and hide.
“Matthew ran to the end of the room and his friend ran into the garage. The suspects must have shot towards Matthew as a bullet was later found close to where he was trying to hide,” said Samantha.
The suspects dragged Benny, who was bleeding badly, into the bathroom and held a gun to Matthew’s head screaming at him to show them where the safe was.
“We don’t have anything of real value and Matthew was begging at them not to shoot him. He said he’d show them where some stuff were if they’d let him help his dad. While the suspects were packing up electrical appliances, Matthew was trying to get bandages to stop Benny’s bleeding, but in the end, he used a towel.”
Matthew’s friend heard the suspects coming closer to him in the garage and ran out and up to the front gate to try and get help.
“While the suspects were making their getaway, Matthew managed to carry his dad to the car and tried to drive. He was in such a state he crashed the car into the garage. Benny was saying to him he just wanted to close his eyes and go to sleep but Matthew said he couldn’t. He managed to drag Benny to the gate and then another farm manager heard the commotion, coming to help and he drove them to Mulbarton Hospital,” added Samantha.
“The hospital staff and paramedics were fantastic and a woman, who was with a man, called Chris from SOS and he was absolutely brilliant. Because of the trauma injury, Benny was transferred to the Union Hospital where he underwent his first surgery, and on Friday he underwent another operation. He had two bullets in his left side and two in his right. Thank God no main organs were hit but an artery in his arm was, which caused the massive bleeding.
“Matthew was such a brave boy and all he cared about was getting his dad to hospital to save him.”
The family would like to thank everyone for their support and messages and pray Benny will soon be on the road to recovery.
All pics supplied.
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