DURBAN - Verulam police are investigating the murder of three people who were gunned down in Shayamoya, Hazelmere, a few minutes before midnight on Saturday.
Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said the victims were identified as Sipho Mthethwa, 36, Mvuyiswa Mathumbu, 25, and Bongani, 29, (surname unknown).
Mbele said Mthethwa suffered four gunshot wounds to the chest, waist and left arm, while Mathumbu sustained five gunshot wounds to the head and upper body. Details of Bongani’s injuries were not provided.
Mbele said it was alleged by a witness that she was at her house when one of her relatives came looking for her husband. She told him that he was not at home. He then asked her to lend him R100. She gave him the money and he left.
The witness said the same person returned with beers and she opened the door for him. Two more known men came in.
The witness said that while the men were drinking, she was in the bedroom but could hear them talking.
“One of them, Bongani, was showing the other two a firearm. He said he had confiscated it from a man who was trying to rob another person in the area.
“All of a sudden she heard some gunshots and came out of the bedroom thinking it was coming from where the three men were. She then saw two men at the bedroom door.
“She then saw the same three men on the floor. Bongani asked why they shot at them. One of the suspects said ’You know what you have done’. They then shot them again while they were on the floor. The suspects took two firearms from Bongani and exited the house. More shots were fired outside,” Mbele said.
Mbele said the matter was under investigation.
She also said 10 cartridges were found at the scene.
Reaction Unit SA (Rusa) spokesperson Prem Balram said that after midnight in the early hours of Sunday, they were called out to the scene where they found Verulam police.
Balram said it was alleged that three victims were drinking alcohol when an unconfirmed number of suspects fired at them.
“The victims sustained gunshot wounds to their heads and chests. They were declared dead on the arrival of Rusa medics. Several spent 9mm cartridges were located at the scene,” Balram said.
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