‘No bail, no bail’ – crowd

Westbury resident Keenan Mokwena said he was the target of the stray bullet that hit Luke Tibbetts (3) while he was travelling in a car with his mom and siblings in Steytler Street, Westbury, on Saturday evening.

The sister of the man who has been arrested, claims to have seen the incident, said that another Westbury resident started the shooting.

“Why must my brother be called in, do they have evidence, do they know what happened,” she said.

She claims they were braaing for her brother’s birthday when men came from nowhere asking for her brother.

“They started asking and then started shooting. If my brother had a gun don’t you think someone else would’ve got hurt,” she said.

Mokwena denies these claims saying that he was shot at by the suspect.

“I’m not a gangster. I never shot anyone, I don’t even own a weapon,” said Mokwena.

According to his aunt, Shirley Cook, Mokwena has not been part of any gang nor does he sell drugs.

This was when the car carrying Luke presumably drove into Steytler Street.

“There has been a case opened of attempted murder and the provincial department of the SAPS will be handling the investigation. The suspect was arrested on Sunday,” said warrant officer Thomas De Bryun.

“They picked my brother up at church on Sunday and said he is being called in for questioning, but he is still in custody,” said Campbell

On Monday morning residents and children marched to Sophiatown Police Station to protest the shooting and demand that the suspect be held without bail.

The crowd chanted “no bail, no bail” and “enough is enough” as they marched through the streets of Westbury.

“This goes this far and no further. We as a community have had enough of people that are trigger happy and hurt innocent children,” said Cook.

Luke’s father, Derrick Pieterse, joined the march, saying that he just wants the law to take its course.

“My son is on a machine that is keeping him alive, I don’t know how to handle it,” said Pieterse.

Pieterse was not present during the incident and was told that his son got caught in the crossfire of a shootout in Steytler Street.

“This violence must come to an end,” said an emotional Pieterse.

Luke’s brother Matthew was also present.

The normally jovial four-year-old is torn up about his brother, the family said.

“He is usually so happy, but now he is angry,” said Pieterse.

Things got heated as the family of the suspect approached the residents.

One resident was shouting at the suspect who is in a cell, saying that he would necklace the suspect.

“Every dog has his day,” the suspect replied through a window of the holding cells.

The suspect’s father intervened in the protest and emotions flared between the family and residents.

“If you want to kill my son, go inside and kill him, said the suspect’s father.

Residents were spewing expletives and also threatened to beat the suspect’s father.

“Moer hom, moer hom,” residents said repeatedly as it got more confrontational.

Three-year-old Luke remains in a critical condition and is fighting for his life.