Bergville store robbery: Family says slain 13-year-old boy was smart, respectful
The 13-year-old boy who was shot dead during a supermarket heist in Bergville on Monday afternoon wanted to be a doctor when he grew up.
Nkanyiso Ntumba had been picking up groceries for his family when the gunmen stormed in and opened fire on staff and shoppers. A 27-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman were also killed.
Three other people were hurt. Nkanyiso's uncle - Nhlanhla Ngubane had been raising him. He says the family is shattered.
"Even at school, he was a smart kid. He was also respectful. He was growing up alongside my children - and there's never been any problems. He had dreams of being a doctor when he's older," Ngubane said.
Police are investigating charges of murder, attempted murder and armed robbery. No arrests have been made.
During the supermarket heist, Ntumba had ran to the bathroom to hide - but he was hit by stray bullets and died in a cubicle.
His uncle - Nhlanhla Ngubane says he'd been raising Nkanyiso since his sister - Nkanyiso's mother died.
He's spoken about the horrifying moment he realised his nephew was dead.
"I received the call yesterday, informing me that he had been injured. When I arrived at the shop, I didn't see anything. I kept asking - 'was he taken by an ambulance?'. What's hurtful is that I didn't get the chance to see him. I stayed there until 12-o-clock, at midnight," Ngubane said.