Mapula Phalane's son, Atlegang, was allegedly shot dead by a police constable who has alleged that he had mistaken a pipe that had been in the child's hands for a gun.

Seila Shadrack Malaka was charged with murder following Atlegang's death. Malaka has pleaded not guilty in the Tembisa Magistrate's Court. Judgment was postponed in April to September 11, and has now been postponed to January.

Phalane said she is struggling to find closure as the case has been dragging on since November 2009.

Phalane said the case was a constant reminder of her son's "senseless death at the hands of the police".

Atlegang was sitting with his uncle, Peter Monaiwa, in a car that was parked outside their home in Klipfontein, Midrand, when Malaka and a colleague arrived - ostensibly pursuing a murder suspect - when he allegedly saw Atlegang holding a pipe he mistook for a gun and opened fire.

Atlegang was hit in the chest, and the pipe was never found. Malaka has pleaded not guilty .

Coincidentally, Monaiwa was later sentenced for house robbery and theft, while Atlegang's father, Vusi Mchunu, is in prison for attempted murder.

Comments

• Sign in or sign up to comment

Wed May 22 19:48:07 SAST 2013 ::

Sep 13, 2012

Kaylae

Atlegang was hit in the chest, and the pipe was never found. Malaka has pleaded not guilty .
Coincidentally, Monaiwa was later sentenced for house robbery and theft, while Atlegang's father, Vusi Mchunu, is in prison for attempted murder.
________________________________________________________________________________
Mr police man you are really taking chances because the uncle is a thief and daddy was jailed for attempted murder.in your right senses if you have a 3 yrs old having a gun and knowing how to use it is so far fetched.Justice please sentence this scum
Report Abuse

Sep 13, 2012

Mokaubere

Sad part is bad cops outnumber good cops in this country.
Report Abuse

Sep 13, 2012

MommaC

I remember this story. How do they manage to drag it on so long? It is just cruel. Give the poor woman some closure already
Report Abuse

Sep 13, 2012

MAILBOX

What is wrong with people handling this case , and again cops are involve and ke sure they are still trying to find a way to put a blame on a 3 year old , it breaks my heart to read about such incidents , pls give the mother some closure , for God sake a 3 year old has been killed
Report Abuse

Sep 14, 2012

somaartakeit

SAn justice system is a farce, that's all I can say, even with all the evidence at their disposal still have no ability to bring cases to finality with conviction of guilty parties,
Report Abuse

Read all 5 comments