Newcastle - A couple were shot and killed in front of two children at their Madadeni home on Tuesday morning.
The 64-year-old man and the 58-year-old women were asleep at their Extension Three home at about 3am when armed men stormed inside.
Two children were asleep at the time and were woken by the noise. In full view of the children, believed to be their grandchildren, the men drew weapons and shot the man in the head and chest.
The 12-year-old girl was gagged and her face was covered with a towel when she tried to cry out for help during the ordeal. As she screamed, a 10-year-old boy tried to fend off one of the men by biting him, but he was overpowered and ran inside a bedroom as the men shot the woman in the thigh and back.
The children were left unharmed by the men.
After the killers left, the two children went to their neighbours’ house, and they called the police.
The incident appeared to have been a professional execution as nothing was taken from the home, a policeman told The Mercury.
The Mercury was unable to reach the relatives or parents of the children for comment as the police were still trying to reach them.
Police spokesman Captain Thulani Zwane confirmed the killing.
Ward councillor Zweli Mbatha strongly condemned the two murders.
“They [the couple] were elderly and unemployed people,” he said. - The Mercury