A case of murder is being investigated by the Benoni SAPS after Brentwood Park resident Wynand Labuschagne (27) was shot and killed at his home in a complex at around 3.10am on the morning of September 6.
It was reported by the Benoni SAPS on the day that Labuschagne was shot at his residence at the front door.
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However, after City Times spoke with the deceased’s fiancée, Sumandi Janse van Rensburg, it was established Labuschagne was shot inside the house.
“We went to bed the night before and we woke up at around 3am when our dog started barking,” said Janse van Rensburg.
“Wynand woke up to see what was happening when he found them (suspects) inside the house in the living room.
“They had derailed our sliding door and gained entry to the house.
“He wanted to chase after them and screamed out “no!” just before he was shot.
“After he was shot, he still tried to run after them and then lost consciousness outside the house.
“I went outside and found him lying on the ground.
“He was still alive at that point because I felt his pulse and I went to find help.”
Janse van Rensburg sought help from the neighbours in the complex.
Greg Visser and a second neighbour, who did not wish to be named, assisted her.
Further to this, the neighbours claim that had a local security company and emergency services arrived sooner on scene, the deceased might have survived the attack.
“My wife and I were awake and heard Wynand scream and then heard a gun go off,” said Visser.
“Moments later, we heard his fiancée calling for help outside and that’s when we let her in.
“We did not allow her out again immediately and waited for a few minutes and called for help before we went to the house.”
The second neighbour, who was awake at the time, said he did not hear the gun shot, but did see three suspects jumping over the complex wall and escaping into a nearby veld.
“I saw Wynand on the ground from my house and I went to help Greg,” he said.
According to Visser, there was a faint pulse coming from Labuschagne, but CMS (security company) and emergency services took over 40 minutes to arrive from the time of the incident.
“I’m not a professional in the medical field, but he might have been alive today if they did not take so long to arrive,” he said.
“The response time from them and SAPS was shocking,” said the second neighbour.
“I was the only person they took a statement from at the time and as far as we know they did not take fingerprints or even cordon off the area.
“I also had to help to put his body into a body bag because the forensics, which arrived after 8am, only sent one person to collect the body.
“SAPS left before forensics arrived.”
Co-owner of CMS Manny Ferreirinha denied the claim of a prolonged response on behalf of the security company, stating records show CMS was contacted at 3.18am and arrived on scene at 3.22am.
Janse van Rensburg also told the City Times the couple would have celebrated their one-year engagement anniversary on September 7.
“He would have done anything for me,” she said.
“He loved me so much and I know he is in heaven.”
The memorial service for the deceased will be held at NG Gemeente Rynfield on September 13 at 11am.
City Times has requested comment from Benoni SAPS.
