'We keep saying police aren't doing their job but we're not helping them' - Phalane family rep

JOHANNESBURG - A family representative of five-year-old Ditebogo Junior Phalane, who was shot and killed in Soshanguve, said that residents should stop protecting criminals. 

Gift Makoti was speaking at the little boy’s funeral in Soshanguve on Friday.

Ditebogo was shot and killed in a botched hijacking last week Friday. He had run outside to greet his father as he returned home but was met by an armed gang.

READ: Cele urges Soshanguve community to assist police crackdown on crime

Makoti said that crime was rife in Soshanguve because residents don’t report the criminals to police.

"We keep saying police are not doing their job, but we are not helping them do their jobs. We stand with them at the car washes and they soft launch the latest trends while we praise them. Today they [criminals] have taken one of our own. This young boy was robbed of his whole life ahead of him because of crime."

Two suspects implicated in Phalane’s matter have been arrested and appeared in court on Friday.