Killing of Nathaniel Julies
| Date | August 26, 2020 |
|---|---|
| Location | Eldorado Park, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa |
| Coordinates | 26°17′33″S 27°53′52″E / 26.292426°S 27.89789°E, |
| Type | Shooting |
| Target | Robbery pursuit[1] Gang violence[2] (unclear) |
| Arrests | 3[3] |
Nathaniel “Lockie” Julies, a 16 year-old boy with down syndrome, was fatally shot allegedly by South African Police Service (SAPS) officers Sergeant Simon ‘Scorpion’ Ndyalvane and Constable Caylene Whiteboy[4][5] on the 26 August 2020.[1] A third suspect, Detective Voster Netshiongolo, appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.[6] Julies was shot meters away from his home in the Eldorado Park area of Johannesburg, Gauteng.[7]
The three officers were charged with murder and the trial began in October of 2022.
Incident
[edit]It was initially reported by Gauteng premier David Makhura that Julies was killed in crossfire between SAPS personnel and gang members.[8][2]
The Julies family have stated that he was at a local tuck shop buying biscuits when the shooting occurred.[8] Officers allegedly involved in the shooting stated that Julies was shot after allegedly failing to respond to police questioning.[8] Media reports stated that Julies died before reaching hospital.[8]
Witness accounts
[edit]An unidentified family member told the media that after purchasing two packs of biscuits Julies joined other nearby children in front of the Hillbrow flats where police first approached him.[8] His father stated that Julies was approached by SAPS officers who tried to question him. The officers were unable to understand Julies and they moved on to questioning another person nearby.[1] After officers had finished questioning and searching the second person, nearby Sergeant Simon 'Scorpion' Ndyalvane got out of a vehicle and shot Julies at close range with a pump action shotgun.[1] The force of the shot propelled Julies' body under a truck. Shortly after the shooting police dragged his body out from under the truck and removed him from the scene.[1]
Eyewitnesses stated that there was no gang presence in the area.[2]
Aftermath
[edit]The shooting highlighted longstanding community grievances with the operation of the Eldorado Park police station.[1] Violent protest action broke out,[1] with two SAPS officers and one Municipal Police officer injured,[9] amidst threats by the community to burn down the police station.[10] A petition calling for the prosecution of those involved in the shooting was signed by over 120,000 people.[11] Minister of Police Bheki Cele said that the actions of the officers implicated in Julies' death were "uncalled for".[7]
A tweet from American musician Solange Knowles increased awareness of the incident outside of South Africa, mentioning Julies' death along with those of Oluwatoyin Salau and of Breonna Taylor in the United States.[8] Eldorado Park community members criticised the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters party for trying to politicise the event and "disrespecting" the funeral procession.[10][12]
At the time of Julies' death he was the second child to have been killed by police action in South Africa in August 2020.[1] The investigative journalism organisation Viewfinder found that thirty-nine children died in SAPS custody or due to SAPS action between April 2012 and March 2018, and that very few officers were held accountable for the deaths.[13]
Charges
[edit]Ndyalvane, Whiteboy and Netshiongolo were charged with "premeditated murder, defeating the ends of justice and possession of illegal ammunition". The trial began in October of 2022.[14][15]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h Simelane, Bheki; Mohammed, Shiraaz (August 28, 2020). "Eldorado Park Shooting: Community protests after boy with down syndrome allegedly shot by police". Daily Maverick. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ a b c Ritchie, Kevin (September 5, 2020). "Nathaniel Julies should be enjoying spring today but instead his loved ones will attend his funeral". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ Simelane, Bheki C. (September 6, 2020). "NATHANIEL JULIES : Grieving family, friends and Eldorado Park community bid farewell to slain teen". Daily Maverick. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ Simelane, Bheki C. (August 31, 2020). "POLICE CHARGED: Nathaniel Julies killing: State will oppose bail for two accused police officers". Daily Maverick. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ Mlambo, Sihle (September 1, 2020). "LOOK: These are the two police officers accused of Nathaniel Julies murder". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ Simelane, Bheki C. (September 3, 2020). "ELDORADO PARK FURY: Three accused policemen in Nathaniel Julies case to appear in court together next week". Daily Maverick. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ^ a b "Cele: Actions of officers accused of Nathaniel Julies' murder uncalled for". ewn.co.za. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Nkanjeni, Unathi (August 28, 2020). "Justice for Natheniël Julies: what you need to know about the teen's death". TimesLIVE. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
- ^ Tlou, Gift (August 28, 2020). "Nathaniel Julies mom: It was like they were killing a dog". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ a b Simelane, Bheki C. (September 6, 2020). "NATHANIEL JULIES : Grieving family, friends and Eldorado Park community bid farewell to slain teen". Daily Maverick. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ Bhengu, Cebelihle (August 31, 2020). "Thousands demand justice for Nathaniel Julies in online petition". TimesLIVE. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ "WATCH: EFF supporters argue with mourners at Nathaniel Julies' funeral". The Citizen. September 5, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ Knoetze, Daneel (September 7, 2020). "Police are not being held accountable for child killings, watchdog records reveal". GroundUp News. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
- ^ Naidoo, Sonri (June 3, 2022). "Police officers accused of Nathaniel Julies' murder expected to plead when new trial starts". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "South Africa". United States Department of State. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
