The family of four-year-old Chloe van der Westhuizen from Hanover Park, who lost an eye in a gang shooting, say she has been discharged from hospital and is on the road to recovery.
However, the bullet that maimed the little girl will remain in her body for the foreseeable future.
Tears of joy flowed last week as the little girl from Algoa Court was discharged after undergoing surgery at Red Cross Children’s Hospital.
She was one of five people shot two weeks ago in a failed gang hit aimed at taking out a skollie living in the council court.
Chloe was rushed to hospital and the Anti-Gang Unit and Philippi police went on a manhunt for the shooter.
A day later Raafiq Jooste was arrested and charged with attempted murder.
The shooting sparked an outcry and hundreds of residents gathered at the court to pray for the young victim.
Residents raised their concerns about the rising gang tension which has seen a spike in shootings in recent weeks.
Chloe’s ouma, Elizabeth, 54, said after undergoing an operation to remove her left eye, little Chloe woke up distraught and crying as she asked about her eye.
The child was discharged on Good Friday and the ouma says she’s doing better than expected.
“Red Cross Hospital sent her home on Friday about a week after they removed her eye,” she says.
“She is recovering by her father’s house in Mamre and is doing very well.
“We were very happy that she is playing again, but the doctors said they will not remove the bullet for now.
“They told her mother that the bullet is lodged between two bones and can no longer travel so it is safer to leave it there for now.
“They also said that they will fit a prosthetic eye for her in three months’ time as the wound will be healed by then.”
Meanwhile, Jooste returned to the Athlone Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday where he was informed that his bail application will be heard on 13 April.
A petition calling for his bail to be denied was submitted at court during his first appearance.
Last month AGU head, Major-General Andre Lincoln, said they would deploy cops on a 24/7 basis over the next month to quell the violence.
monique.duval@inl.co.za