Month: June 2018

The father who shot his 16-year-old son accidentally at Norman Fred Clark Secondary School in Ennerdale has been released on a warning.

Sibusiso Emmanuel Tshabalala (50) asked the magistrate Maggie van der Merwe to grant him bail in order for him to help with the funeral preparation for his son.

The distraught Tshabalala appeared at the Lenasia Magistrates Court.

During the court appearance, Tshabalala could be seen being comforted by his visibly distraught wife.

Speaking through his lawyer, he told the court that he was the only one employed at home and that he had three more children who depended on him for financial support.

He also told the court that the accused was not a flight risk and that he held a permanent post, which meant that he would not skip bail.

Tshabalala allegedly shot his son Luyanda Themba Tshabalala who was doing Grade 11 on the school grounds after mistaking him for a highjacker when he knocked on the window on Tuesday night.

According to his affidavit which was read in court, he went to school to collect his son after attending extra lessons when he fell asleep in his car.

The case will resume again on July 24.

A father who allegedly accidentally shot dead his son at a

Johannesburg school wept‚ holding his head in his hands‚ as he faced a charge of murder on Thursday.

Emanuel Tshabalala‚ 51‚ dressed in jeans and a purple hoodie‚ had tears streaming down his face when he applied for bail in the Lenasia Magistrate’s Court‚ saying he wanted to bury his son.

The state did not oppose bail and the court took into account the fact that he had handed himself over and had cooperated fully with the police.

Magistrate Maggie van der Merwe said: “I can only describe this incident as a tragedy.”

Tshabalala was sleeping in his car after dropping off his 16-year-old son‚ Luyanda Themba Tshabalala‚ for evening classes on Tuesday.

He was woken by knocking on the window and‚ thinking he was in danger‚ discharged his firearm.

He said in an affidavit presented to court that after firing the weapon‚ Luyanda said: “Daddy‚ it’s me”.

He got out of the vehicle‚ went to his son and then rushed his son to get medical help but there was nothing that could be done to save his life.

“This is my first accident and a painful one‚” he tearfully told the court. He said the incident would haunt him for the rest of his life.

He is employed as a security officer at the vehicle unit of the South African Police Services in Krugersdorp.

Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi was in court to listen to proceedings. “We cannot go into circumstances that led into the death. We respect the justice system. We will continue to support the family and the learners‚” said Lesufi.

The magistrate has described the case as tragic, adding that the decision to prosecute ultimately lies with the National Prosecuting Authority.

The 51-year-old man claims he mistakenly shot his son on Tuesday night at the Fred Norman Secondary School where the pupil had been attending extra lessons.

The father told police he’d fallen asleep in the car while waiting in the schoolyard and was startled when he heard a knock on his window, he then opened fire not knowing that it was his son.

The magistrate has described the case as tragic, adding that the decision to prosecute ultimately lies with the National Prosecuting Authority.

At the same time, the police’s Mpanda Khoza says investigations are continuing.

“They were all in court and we will carry on with the investigation.”

Continue reading ENNERDALE FATHER ACCUSED OF KILLING SON RELEASED ON WARNING