Durban — The community of the uMlazi N section was left terrified after a shooting claimed the lives of three people, including a 9-year-old boy.
On Wednesday, Siyabonga Nene, 29, who was transporting pupils home from school, was with his 35-year-old friend in a car when they were intercepted on the road by occupants of a silver-grey vehicle while dropping off a child.
The child was stepping out from the rear passenger door when gunmen opened fire on all three.
Nene’s brother, Siyanda Ngcongo, said the family was shocked, devastated and far from recovering from the loss of their son.
Ngcongo said he rushed to the scene as he heard about the incident.
“I was shocked by the bullet holes in the car. There was a lot of blood and glasses. I saw the body of a child and some people informed me that he was trying to get out of the car when he was shot. His innocent body was just lying on the ground, while my brother and his friend were stuck inside. I couldn’t go any closer to check if they were breathing as the police were already there,” he said.
He said he could not think of anyone who might have wanted Nene dead, adding that he’d lived an honest life.
“My brother has been working as a driver transporting children for many years and as far as I know, this was the only job he was earning a living from and it was going well. Siya was very fond of the work of transporting children and he did it diligently because he had a taxi and a small car that he used to transport children,” explained Ngcongo.
He said at the moment, no one knew what led the unknown men to kill his brother. However, he was hopeful that they would be found and arrested.
“I am not blaming anyone. He did not have any enemies or anyone who he owed or had a beef with. But looking at how this happened, I am convinced it was well planned. The car tyres were slouched. We think that the suspects started by blowing up the tyres so that the car could not escape,” said Ngcongo.
Police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said the motive for the killing was unknown, adding that charges of murder were opened at uMlazi police station for investigation.
“An unknown suspect opened fire, fatally wounding both the driver and his friend on the chest and head. The child sustained injuries and was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on arrival,” said Ngcobo.
Daily News