12 year old gets shot by 14 year old friend
The loss of our child blew my family to pieces.
The call any working mother dreads receiving, is someone calling to tell her that her child has been shot. Janine Jaftha (36) received just such a call on December 12 last year. Her son, Shaylon Jaftha (12) had been fatally shot by his 14 year old friend with a firearm belonging to his stepfather.
The two had been friends who enjoyed playing together and the gunshot which rang out that day, would alter the course of their families’ lives forever.
Jaftha says, “The loss of Shaylon in this manner blew our family to pieces and we would like to get the word out that gun owners should keep their firearms either on their person, or in a safe.”
“Parents should never give or show their children how to operate a gun at such a young age.”
Janine and husband Kingsley Jaftha (46), plan to commemorate their son’s life and senseless killing by hosting a ceremony at their home in Eldorado Park Proper, known as ‘Old Eldos’, 1820 Mika Avenue at 6pm on the anniversary of Shaylon’s death.
Gun safety and how the rules apply to gun owners is especially concerning when it is taken into account that at least 100 children aged 17 and under are killed unintentionally each year.
The couple advocate the SMART in bringing awareness to gun safety and preventing gun-related accidents which have robbed them of a son. SMART aims to educate gun owners in our community about gun safety by utilising the five principles listed below :
S-secure guns in homes and vehicles
M-Model responsible behaviour
A-Ask about unsecured guns in other homes
R-Recognise the risks of teen suicide
T-Tell your peers to be SMART
Janine Jaftha can be heard in the voice clip giving an account of how the untimely death of Shaylon has impacted their lives.
