The brazen, bloody violence in New Brighton continued on Friday when two men were killed and another injured in a small vegetable shop – a mere 200m down the road from an earlier killing on Monday.
This brings the murder toll in the area to at least five since Monday when Black Business Caucus co-ordinator Baba Ningi, 48, was gunned down outside the Lifa and Mafa Butchery in Koyana Street.
Just six hours later, Nkululeko Ngcakasi, 44, who owned two businesses, was shot several times in Tshiwula Street, New Brighton.
Then, Marina Ntamo, 37, was shot dead in Tshangana Street on Wednesday.
On Friday, police tape was used to cordon off the unnamed shop attached to a small house on the corner of Msimka and Tshiwula streets.
Dozens of residents gathered outside with many walking through the cordoned-off area.
Children who kept trying to look inside the shop were quickly chased away by angry adults.
A long streak of blood could be seen inside the shop, leading all the way to a door connecting to the house.
Bloodied fruit and vegetables could be seen on the floor with a box full of carrots toppled over just outside the shop.
Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said most of the details surrounding the attack were still unknown.
But it is believed a lone gunman fired several shots into the shop.
Themba Makalima, 25, who lives in Tshiwula Street, died inside the shop while Sabelo Ngquphe, 30, who lives in Msimka Street, died in hospital a short while later.
“Police were alerted to the shooting. When they arrived, the shooter had already fled,” Beetge said.
He said the three men had been standing inside the shop.
“A lone gunman stood near the entrance and fired several shots inside.”
Beetge said the suspect had then run off.
“The motive is unknown and is being investigated. At this stage, a motive of robbery is unlikely as nothing was stolen.”
The 38-year-old man wounded – whose name is being withheld for his protection – is still in hospital.
Asked if the shooting was linked to the murders earlier this week, Beetge said it had not been ruled out.
Residents, friends and relatives stood outside the shop as the police removed Makalima’s body.
A woman, who refused to be named, sobbed loudly as the body was placed inside a van.
“Why kill him like a dog? They have murdered my relative. My hope is now dashed. Why take away our pillar of strength?
“Who is going to look after his children?” she said.
Soon after the police left, a woman started pouring buckets of water over the blood inside the shop.
A 75-year-old man said New Brighton was getting more dangerous by the day.
Meanwhile, more details surrounding the death of Ngcakasi can be revealed.
According to police sources, Ngcakasi’s Corsa bakkie, which he was driving, had more than 10 shots fired through the windscreen when it came to a stop in Tshiwula Street.
A preliminary analysis of the scene revealed that almost 30 shots were fired – several hitting the driver’s side of the windscreen and several more were shot into Ngcakasi’s body when he collapsed near his bakkie.