Cape Town - The Somerset West community has been left horrified after two brazen assailants fatally shot and killed a man in a suspected hit yesterday.
The unidentified 42-year-old victim was killed on the corner of Main and Lourensford Roads, one of the busiest intersections in the quiet neighbourhood.
According to a witness, the suspects had a getaway car waiting for them as they casually walked away from the scene at around 7am.
“At first, I thought it was a car backfiring, then I saw two men casually running around the corner. They really weren’t in a hurry. One had his hand in his pocket like he was holding something. A car was waiting for them. They got in and drove away. It was all so ‘relaxed’ that I didn’t initially realise what had happened,” said the witness.
Ward councillor, Norman McFarlane, said the shooting left him and residents horrified. “The people are shocked. Hours after the shooting I engaged with community members who asked how this could happen in our town. If you look at where it happened, that is the entrance to the CBD, it’s a busy area, which is heavily populated with private residences and businesses. And if this could happen on the street, someone gets assassinated and the two perpetrators get away. People are horrified that this happened in their town.”
Police spokesperson, Joseph Swartbooi, said Somerset West Serious and Violent Crime detectives are hard at work pursuing leads to apprehend the suspects. “Reports suggest that three unknown armed men opened fire at around 7am on the victim, a Sotho foreign national in Lourensford Road in Somerset West. The victim did not survive the onslaught on his life and was declared deceased on the scene by the medical personnel. The motive for this attack is now the subject of an investigation by the South African Police Service.”
Anyone with information is requested to call Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or by using the mobile application MySAPS anonymously.
mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za
Cape Argus