Three-year-old Qadir Boer killed in suspected gang shooting in Hanover Park

The Hanover Park community is mourning after a three-year-old boy was killed in a suspected gang-related shooting.

A stray bullet hit Qadir Boer, and he later died at the Red Cross War Memorial Hospital after doctors confirmed his death in the early hours of Thursday morning.

His uncle, Abduragmaan Boer, said the doctor called him around 2am to confirm Qadir had been pronounced dead.

Boer said the child had been rushed to the hospital after the shooting, but despite doctors’ efforts, he did not survive.

“They told me my nephew was going in for an operation. The bullet hit his brain. This morning, the hospital people booked him to sleep, and later the doctor called me at 2am and told me he didn’t make it, and I had to break the news to my parents. My big brother, the father, he is beside himself; he doesn't know whether he is coming or going,” he said.

The three-year-old, who would have turned four soon, was at home when the shooting happened.

“He was just buzzing around in the house, but then ended up outside. The father had been watching him, but he was busy with something inside the house. Sometimes things happen so quickly." 

As they prepared for the janazah (funeral), relatives spoke about finding comfort in their faith.

“It’s painful. Yes, we are going to question why, why is God’s will in this way? Because this is a three-year-old, and he died like this.”

Community Police Forum spokesperson Kashiefa Mohammed said the incident had affected Hanover Park deeply.

“That is the sad part that is happening in Hanover Park, that it has come to this stage where babies get killed. A three-year-old doesn’t know the sound of a gunshot. He doesn’t even know the word ‘violence' ,” she said.

Mohammed said residents had helped police identify and arrest two suspects.

“Two shooters were arrested yesterday because the Hanover Park community went to the police,” she said.

“Killing a child is unacceptable. Those gangsters know who their enemy is. Why do they shoot when they see children playing in the road? Why did they take this child’s happiness away from him? One minute he had a smile on his face, and the next minute he was confused by where the pain came from. He still had a life to live,” she said.

Mohammed said residents live in fear because of ongoing gang violence.

“The community is so scared to walk on the road. At night, we go to sleep with the sound of gunshots. In the morning, we wake up with the sound of gunshots. This is not a normal life to live,” she said.

She also said the suspects arrested were teenagers.

“If they are teenagers, why did they make the wrong choice? Why did they think a real gun is a play toy? If they were children, they should have been kept like children, not take the life of an innocent child,” she said.

Western Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed the child’s death and the change of charges.

“This office can confirm that the child passed away early this morning in the hospital. Philippi police will now change the charge from attempted murder to murder,” he said.

Twigg said the shooting occurred in Moray Court, Hanover Park, on Wednesday, 8 October, at around 2.30pm.

“Suspects believed to be linked to gang activity opened fire in public, injuring the young child in the process. The victim was transported to a medical facility for treatment, but later died,” he said.

He confirmed that swift police action led to the arrest of two 17-year-old suspects shortly after the incident.

“The pair are currently in custody and will appear in court once they have been charged,” Twigg said.

The child’s janazah was expected to take place later on Thursday, with the Hanover Park community preparing to come together in mourning.

Cape Times