Gunmen kill five-year-old boy in hail of bullets as child runs to greet father as they hijack his truck

Gunmen killed a five-year-old boy in a hail of bullets after the child ran to greet his father as thieves hijacked his truck.

Little Ditebogo Phalane Jr was shot dead outside his home in Soshanguve, near Pretoria, South Africa, on May 10 at around 10 p.m.

Thieves were stealing the family’s Toyota pickup when Ditebogo was shot, according to local media.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said: “An unconfirmed number of armed suspects are believed to have hijacked the father’s white Toyota Hilux bakkie and shot the five-year-old boy, who later died at the hospital.”

The little boy’s heartbroken family have appealed for any witnesses. Family spokesperson Gift Makoti said: “We thank the community for their support during this difficult time. »

Little Ditebogo Phalane Jr was shot dead outside his home in Soshanguve, near Pretoria, South Africa, while running to his father on May 10 (father and son pictured together).

Thieves were stealing the family’s Toyota pickup when Ditebogo (pictured) was shot dead, according to local media.

The family of the heartbroken little boy (pictured with Ditebogo before his death) have appealed for any witnesses. Family spokesperson Gift Makoti said: “We thank the community for their support during this difficult time.”

Local police are investigating the murder and the head of the Patriotic Alliance, a South African political party, has offered a reward to anyone who helps find Ditebogo’s killers.

Gayton McKenzie said he would give £10,000 (R250,000) to “anyone with information about the culprit”.

A further reward of £430 has been offered by a local investigation agency.

Politician Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said his party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, would pressure police to arrest the gunmen.

“It’s the business of a five-year-old child. No one deserves to experience what the Phalane family is experiencing. No one should lose their child like this has happened and we will make sure the police do their job,” he told local newspaper TimesLive.