Stray bullet lodges in man’s head

A Hairstylist survived being shot in the head by a stray bullet fired at a thief by a King William’s Town business manager.

In a bizarre claim, the victim, Liphe Ndarhana, 22, said the manager tried to squash the incident by taking him to a pharmacy, buying him painkillers and dropping him back at work.

The businessman refused to give his name and called security when the Daily Dispatch asked him for his side of the story.

Ndarhana, 22, of Tolofiyeni Village, was yesterday discharged from Frere Hospital with the slug still in his head.

King William’s Town police spokeswoman Lieutenant Siphokazi Mawisa yesterday confirmed a case of attempted murder had been opened.

She said investigations were ongoing. There were still outstanding statements to be taken, before any arrest could be effected.

The incident occurred while Ndarhana was sitting outside the hair salon where he works when a neighbouring shop manager took a potshot at the suspected thief.

Ndarhana was rushed to Frere from Grey Hospital last Wednesday with papers stating that the bullet went through his forehead and lodged in the left side of his head.

Ndarhana, speaking from his home moments after arriving back from hospital, said he was trying to be strong after his traumatic experience. His overjoyed mom Thandiswa was by his side.

He said he had been sitting on the salon stairs when he saw a commotion at a delivery van nearby.

“This guy was trying to open the back of this van when the shop manager came out and pulled out a gun.

“This guy ran towards our direction and instead of avoiding hitting bystanders, the manager fired a shot that missed a lot of people but hit me,” Ndarhana recalled. He heard the loud bang and felt something in his forehead.

“I was conscious. I did not fall. I remained on my seat while blood streamed down my face.

“I was with two colleagues who called the manager from his shop.”

Colleague Ncumisa Rhalana, who was inches from Ndarhana, said the bullet only just missed her waist.

She said the manager came over and said he was taking Ndarhana to hospital.

Rhalana said: “But he did not call the police or an ambulance, just quickly took him in his car.

“We thought he was taking him to Grey, but to our surprise they came back a few minutes later.

“Liphe told us he was taken to a private doctor, who was not available, then to a pharmacy where he was given painkillers and a plaster was placed oin his forehead,” she said.

Ndarhana claims he was given R400 by the man and asked not to report the shooting to the police.

However, moments later blood started streaming from his head and he became dizzy.

His colleagues again called the man who again took him to a private doctor who refused to treat a gunshot wound and referred them to Grey Hospital.

“He eventually took me to Grey and when we got there police also came and spoke to him outside.

“When it was discovered that the bullet was still lodged in my head, an ambulance was summoned and I was rushed to Frere.

“The doctors later told me that it was more dangerous to operate and try to remove the bullet as that could affect my brain, speech and walking ability. They said I was better off with it inside,” Ndarhana said.

His emotional mother said even though the manager had visited her son in hospital on Saturday and brought him “lousy food”, he had never visited the family “to explain himself or apologise for nearly killing our breadwinner, as any other caring human being would do”.

“This is indeed a miracle that someone could be shot in the head and still survive to tell the tale.

“What makes me angry and hurt inside is that this man has never bothered to show ubuntu.

“If if I had the means, I would sue that business and that manager for the blood of my son that they have spilled so carelessly,” she said.

Approached for comment at his shop yesterday the manager – who refused to identify himself – also refused to speak, and instead called on security to evict the Dispatch team from the shop.

“We have not dealt with this matter and the owners are not here, so I don’t have any story for you,” he said before retreating to his office and calling security.

Hawkers on the nearby street said that earlier this year there was a similar shooting in the street when a manager had fired at a fleeing thief into a crowded street scene.

“What puzzles us is why there are no arrests for shooting in public,” said one hawker. — asandan@dispatch.co.za