[imagesource: Kayleen Morgan/EWN]

On August 26, when 16-year-old Nathaniel Julies was gunned down, allegedly by a police officer, in Eldorado Park, violent protests erupted as locals cried out for justice.

Nathaniel, who had Down Syndrome, had walked to the shop to buy some biscuits, following which he crossed the road and went over to a truck parked outside the Hillbrow flats.

Police cars, flashing their lights, entered the scene. What they were doing in the neighbourhood remains unclear.

A few minutes later, Nathaniel was shot, piled into the back of a SAPS van, and later dumped at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, where he died.

His handprints on the side of the truck, mapping his path to the ground, has since been turned into a memorial.

Image: New Frame

The horrifying death of a disabled child, along with the overarching police brutality that plagues South Africa, has caught the attention of the BBC.

Three policemen – Simon Ndyalvane, Caylene Whitboy, and Foster Netshiongolo – have been arrested in connection with the shooting.

Image: New Frame

Ndyalvane (above left) and Whitboy (above right) are facing charges of premeditated murder, defeating the ends of justice, discharging a firearm in a public space, and possession of prohibited ammunition.

Netshiongolo will be tried on charges of murder as an accessory after the fact, unlawful possession of ammunition, and defeating the ends of justice.

It is suspected that following the crime the officers returned to tamper with evidence.

The three officers are due back in court on September 10 (Thursday) where it is expected that they will apply for bail.

New Frame wrote a beautiful article about Nathaniel’s life, including interviews with his friends and family, which you can read here.

Mia Ripon, the owner of the shop where Nathaniel bought his biscuits, said this:

“I have known him for many years. I could see that he is a special child, he can’t speak properly. Sometimes he has some small money and he buys the biscuits but other times I just give it to him for free, you know. Always no trouble, he was a good boy.”

A heartbreaking, and entirely avoidable, tragedy.

[source:bbc&newframe]