Durban - A businessman was shot dead in the ceiling of his Pietermaritzburg home while trying to hide from his assailants.
A gang armed with high-calibre weapons, who presented themselves as police officers, stormed the Copesville home of Mdu Mathonsi, 33, on Sunday evening, shot him dead and injured his brother.
Mathonsi’s bullet-riddled body was retrieved from the ceiling of his Alabaster Drive home by the SAPS. It is alleged that four men opened fire on him and his younger brother, Qinisani Zondi, 22.
According to relatives, who are also neighbours, Mathonsi and Zondi were asleep when they heard the voices of their assailants outside the house and scrambled to seek refuge in the ceiling.
Police sources indicated that more than 50 bullets had been fired around the house, including at the doors, walls and the ceiling. The number of bullet holes and spent cartridges tell the story of the hail of bullets that Mathonsi and his brother endured.
Mathonsi’s relative, Lwazi Phungula, said that he was a businessman who had recently moved from Greytown to Pietermaritzburg.
“He had no enemies here. We are confused and shocked by what has happened,” Phungula said.
Phungula confirmed that no valuables had been taken.
“They came here with the sole intention of killing him,” he said.
Mathonsi was a businessman who used his car as a taxi in Greytown.
Neighbours, traumatised by the ordeal, said they were living in fear. One said the shooting lasted 30 minutes.
“We heard them shouting that they were the police, so we didn’t call the police. We didn’t know what to do. We just protected our children,” a neighbour said.
Another said she heard the gunmen threatening Mathonsi.
“I heard the gunmen saying they had found him and he should have known he could not hide from them forever. The men fled on foot,” the resident said.
Police spokesman, Warrant Officer Joshua Maistry, said a case of murder and attempted murder was being investigated.
He distanced the SAPS from the incident, saying no police had been out in the area.
Zondi is reportedly in a critical condition in hospital.
Maistry appealed for witnesses to call 10111 or Detective Warrant Officer Mbongeni Dladla at 078 776 4973.
Daily News