Man dies as bullets fly in gang hit

IN what the police believe was a gang-related hit, a man died in a hail of bullets at about 7pm last night while sitting in a vehicle with a suspected gang leader in Gelvandale.

The deceased, Godfrey Francis, 48, was in a bakkie with Allistair "Ellie" Whitebooi when they were attacked from behind in Bell Road. Thirteen shots were fired at the vehicle, Warrant Officer Alwin Labans said.

Whitebooi is the alleged leader of the Upstand Dogs in Gelvandale, Port Elizabeth.

In July last year Whitebooi was hospitalised after a suspected hit on him on the Stanford Road Bridge.

"Francis, who lived in Springbok Road, took the bulk of the bullets. He was hit on the right side of his body.

"He died at the scene," Labans said of last night's attack.

Whitebooi escaped unharmed.

Residents of Bell Road, who asked not to be identified as they live in fear, said they heard what sounded like firecrackers at about 7pm.

They then saw the bakkie with a blood trail on the side. Francis had collapsed inside the bakkie. The vehicle's back window was shattered.

Two ambulances arrived in Bell Street at about 8pm. – Herald Reporter