Cape Town - The death toll in a bloody gang war in Mitchells Plain has risen to 10 in as many days after a man was gunned down on Thursday night.
Police say 25-year-old Abduraghmaan Wilson was shot and killed outside his home in Madeliefie Street, Lentegeur, at 9:10pm, on the eve of Eid al-Adha.
What was meant to be a day of celebration turned into a day of mourning for his family, who had to bury him on Friday.
Abduraghmaan was killed in a drive-by shooting while going to the shop with his father.
His sister-in-law on Sunday described the young man as respectful.
She says he was not affiliated to any gangs or gang activity in Lentegeur.
“He went to buy cigarettes with his dad before 9pm. While they walked back, he was walking a short distance in front of his dad, a white Golf sped down the street and they shot at him.”
She says 16 shots were fired, of which 12 hit Abduraghmaan in his abdomen, head and face. He died on the scene.
Abduraghmaan was killed in a drive-by shooting while going to the shop with his father. Picture: Supplied
Abduraghmaan’s 64-year-old mother says her youngest son loved working on cars.
“He was good with cars, he wasn’t working right now, but loved working on cars,” the mom says.
“When I heard the gunshots, I had a feeling it was him. He wasn’t naughty or part of a gang, so I didn’t expect him to get shot.”
“We planned to have a big lunch with our family on Eid but instead we came together to have a janaazah.”
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed the incident and says no arrests have been made yet.
On Friday, at about 8:10pm, a 53-year-old man was shot in the head in Alps Street, Tafelsig. Police say he was taken to hospital.
“The motive for the shooting is allegedly gang-related,” says Van Wyk.
The Daily Voice also spoke to 63-year-old grandmother, Elizabeth Barron, who was shot in the hip while standing in her yard in Cadillac Street, Beacon Valley, on 30 August. The mother of five was discharged from hospital on Friday.
“I was standing inside my own property and was talking to a woman in the street (when shot),” she says.
Rival gangs the Dixie Boys and Yakkies are blamed for the violence in Lentegeur while the Americans, Ghettos and Westsiders are waging war in Beacon Valley.
Last week, MEC for Community Safety, Dan Plato called on Police Minister Fikile Mbalula to reinstate the gang and drug unit to help stem the violence.