CHAOS: A 12-year-old girl killed by stray bullet during qurbani. A video has gone viral of the chaos which erupted when a bull, that was due to be sacrificed, broke loose from a truck and went on a rampage. As people scattered to safety, various attempts were made to stop the animal. Gunshots are the heard.
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A TRAGIC incident during Eid al-Adha celebrations resulted in the death of 12-year-old Amatullah Ismail Mungur, who was struck by a stray bullet amidst chaos at a qurbani gathering, near Fouriesburg, in the Bethlehem, in the Free State.
According to reports, several Muslim families had gathered at the Jabadus Salaam premises on Thursday, to perform qurbani, the ritual sacrifice of animals during Eid al-Adha.
A video has gone viral of the chaos which erupted when a bull, that was due to be sacrificed, broke loose from a truck and went on a rampage.
The animal, which had been tied inside the vehicle, bolted when the truck door was opened.
In the video, families, including women and children, tried to run to safety, away from the charging bull.
As people scattered to safety, various attempts were made to stop the animal.
In the video, gunshots are then heard.
It has been alleged that a stray bullet hit Amatullah Ismail Mungur from Azaadville.
It is believed that she was sitting inside her family's vehicle when she was shot.
Shortly after the incident, the management of the Jabadus Salaam premises, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the child's life, IOL reported.
"We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of a young girl's life following an incident that occurred yesterday at our premises," the statement read.
Management confirmed that the matter was under investigation and pledged full cooperation with authorities.
"We are fully cooperating with the authorities and will provide all assistance, information and support required to facilitate a thorough and impartial investigation."
The organisation said its immediate concern was supporting the bereaved family.
"At this stage, our focus is on extending our sincere condolences to the family and making du'aa that Allah Ta'ala grants the deceased child the highest stages of Jannah, grants her family sabr during this difficult time, and guides all concerned through the investigation process."
The management further appealed to the public not to speculate while investigations continue.
"Out of respect for the family, and to avoid the spread of misinformation, we encourage everyone to refrain from speculation and allow the authorities to determine the facts."
They added that the safety and wellbeing of guests, visitors and staff remain a priority and that all necessary legal procedures would be followed.
Anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee described the incident as heart-breaking and called for accountability.
"Heart-breaking news. A 12-year-old child has lost her life after being struck by a stray bullet. No family should ever have to endure such a tragedy. My deepest condolences to her loved ones, friends, and community.
"This devastating incident is a stark reminder of the deadly consequences of using firearms responsibly. May her soul rest in peace, and may those responsible be swiftly brought to justice," Abramjee said.
Dr Yusuf Patel, Secretary General of the United Ulama Council of South Africa, also expressed condolences while urging patience as investigators work to establish the facts.
"The incident is deeply unfortunate, and our thoughts are with the young girl and her family during this difficult time.
"At this stage, we do not have full details surrounding what transpired. We understand that the matter is under investigation by the relevant authorities, and we trust that the police will provide clarity once their inquiry is complete," Patel said.
Dr Faisal Suliman, the chairperson of the South African Muslim Network said more vigilance needed to be taken in situations like these.
“The tragic, freak, accidental killing on the day of Eid, was just absolutely horrible and a waste of a young girl's life. Imagine the scaring on her family, the person responsible and the farm owners. “What it clearly shows is the need for much better organisation, safety controls, and vigilance, from the public, and perhaps the community, when going to farms or places where particularly bulls are being slaughtered.“It is easy to become complacent, while clearly, this was an unintended freak occurrence. These are huge animals, that adrenaline is pumping on the day.
“With the noise and crowds, the animal itself is under a bit of stress and duress, and therefore extra precautions, safety measures, have to be done and taken by all concerned - both the farmers, the people responsible for the safety and security of visitors, and extra vigilance on the part of the community. In this case, the Muslim community.
“But of course, there are other faith groups who also carry out some ritual slaughtering and there too, there has to be caution and vigilance. Our South African Muslim network extends its most sincere condolences to the period to parents and families and believe we have to be much more cautious and vigilant so that recurrence of this terrible tragedy does not happen,” said Suliman.
The funeral of Amatullah Ismail Mungur took place on May 29.