MBABANE – A Grade II pupil is fighting for her life after being struck by a stray bullet in the head while aboard a public transport vehicle.
The seven-year-old girl was returning from school on Wednesday when the incident occurred at Jabulani, an area just outside Nhlangano. She is currently admitted to Mbabane Government Hospital and is in the intensive care unit (ICU).
According to a source, the minor, a resident of Phola Township, boarded the kombi at Jabulani upon leaving Mlambo Primary School. She was accompanied by her 11-year-old sister and other pupils.
The source further alleged that the minor was sitting on one of the three-seated chairs directly behind the driver’s seat, alongside another pupil.
The driver reportedly heard a shooting sound and immediately brought the kombi to a stop. Upon investigating, he discovered that the window glass at the sliding door was broken. When he opened the door, he found the young girl had been shot in the head, with blood visible on the seat where she was sitting.
The shocking nature of the incident left the other pupils traumatised, with some reportedly leaving their school bags behind in the kombi.
A bullet head was allegedly found inside the vehicle. It has not been established precisely how many passengers were on board at the time of the shooting, as the driver claimed to have immediately contacted the 977 emergency services, who arrived and transported the injured minor to Nhlangano Health Centre.
The driver then reportedly drove the kombi directly to Nhlangano Police Station to report the occurrence. Due to the seriousness of her injuries, the minor was subsequently transferred to Hlatikhulu Government Hospital before being referred to the ICU at Mbabane Government Hospital, where she remains in a critical condition.
Her mother, surrounded by relatives and friends at the hospital, stated that they did not have much information about the incident, except that her daughter was on her way home from school when it happened. Overwhelmed by emotions, she shared that she received a call informing her that her daughter had been shot.
“Shocked, I rushed to the scene and my worst fears were confirmed. The bullet pierced through her skull, all the way to the back of her head,” she said.
The mother noted that, according to the doctor’s assessment, the situation is very serious and they are leaving everything in God’s hands.
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