Liyolatha Baliso was killed in a suspected extortion related shooting outside her home in Milnerton.
What was supposed to be a fun day with friends turned out to be Sinovuyo Baliso’s worst nightmare when her 4-year-old daughter Liyolatha was killed in a suspected extortion-related shooting in Phoenix, Milnerton.
She was rushed to hospital with a gunshot wound to her stomach. She succumbed to her injuries a few days after the incident on August 24.
“It is still very sore and traumatic. As a family we are all still trying to process what happened. She was ripped from us in such a brutal manner.
“When it happened, Liyolatha was playing with her group of about five friends, when we heard gunshots. She was shot. It hurts very much. I think I am still in denial about everything that happened. I have been offered trauma support and counselling and started with it this week,” said Baliso.
Describing her daughter, Baliso said Liyolatha was a vibrant toddler who was very active.
“She loved playing with her dog and especially loved outings. She was a happy girl who loved her toys as well.
It is a struggle getting used to her now no longer being around. Everyone who loved her dearly is deeply affected by her being ripped away from us. We can feel the gap and it’s been very difficult,” said Baliso.
Liyolatha is expected to be buried in the Eastern Cape this weekend, however the mother, who is unemployed, said financially it has been difficult to come up with the funds to ensure all costs are covered for her burial.
The family have appealed to anyone willing to contribute towards the funeral costs to contact Baliso at 078 379 0731.
Ward councillor Anthony Benadie said the community had called on police to investigate these “barbaric crimes”.
The neighbouring Joe Slovo settlement, also in Milnerton, was the scene of a crime last Thursday after four men believed to be involved in extortion-related crimes were killed in a shoot-out with the police.
Four accomplices in a Toyota Quantum were wounded and taken to a nearby hospital where they remain under police guard. Four firearms and rounds of ammunition were seized from their vehicle.
Benadie said: “Liyolatha was an innocent victim, shot in what we believed to have been an extortion-related crime.
The extortion crimes in the area have gripped small businesses and informal traders. They are the vulnerable being attacked.
“I feel sorry for these business owners who are targeted in such a manner because the criminals have no remorse or regard for life. The tragic killing of the little girl and the incident where police had shot and killed four men in the same area a few days ago is indicative of what we are struggling with.”
Police had not yet responded to questions regarding Liyolatha’s murder by deadline on Wednesday.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu told MPs on Tuesday that they were pinning their hopes on crime intelligence’s increased capacity to help curb the spread of extortion-related crimes.
However, EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi lambasted him, saying there was no proper plan for how to deal with extortion cases, especially in construction.
Ndlozi said Mchunu simply repeated everything that his predecessor had said in the past.
“You come here and tell us you are going to work with provinces and private security companies. All of those things you said have been done before.”
Insitute for Security Studies crime expert William Els told “Cape Times” sister publication, “The Star,” on Wednesday that police were unable to deal with the construction mafias and extortionists because they have been allowed to operate with impunity for a long time.
“The longer these groups are active, the stronger they become and the more they get protection from higher ranks.
These syndicates have to corrupt state actors in order to protect them, so also the stronger they become, the more vulnerable the state becomes,” he added.
The odds were against the police in this regard, Els said.
“It’s still early times, unfortunately, but we still have to wait and see because the proof is in the pudding. It seems like the new minister has some strategy in place that he wants to implement, he also made some right noises.
“Police will never be able to win against corruption if they don’t clean up their camp. They must start to demonstrate their competence.”
Cape Times