Senseless murders in the Fochville area shock
There was also another murder in the area.
Five people were killed and four others injured in two separate shootings in the greater Fochville area this week.
Residents of Greenspark are still in shock after a young man from the town was brutally murdered over the weekend.
According to a trusted source, the deceased, Martin Fourie (27), and two friends were standing outside a tavern in Patrys Street when the incident occurred on Sunday morning at approximately 01:15. The friends are also in their 20s.
The tavern, situated at shack no.22, was already closed for the night.
The three men were standing in the street when a white Toyota Quantum minibus appeared. As it drove toward the three men the occupants started shooting at Fourie and his friends.
Fourie was shot ten times and died at the scene. His friends were also hit, one sustaining bullet wounds on his right leg, and were rushed to Carletonville Hospital.
As far as could be determined, the three men were on their way home from another tavern when the murder took place. The motive for the killing is still unknown.
By printing time, Fourie’s older brother, Glen, was still too distraught over his brother’s murder to be able to share his thoughts. He is well-known for his welfare work among children in Greenspark.
Unfortunately, yet another murder took place in the Fochville area this week.
This crime, which seems to be part of a turf war between illegal miners and metal thieves, took place at the open veld between the R500 road and Sibanye-Stillwater’s 9 Shaft on August 28.
A group of six men went to the mine at about 21:30 to steal metal. The men, all Mozambican nationals staying in Khutsong, suddenly saw a group of ten unknown men walking toward them. They were all armed and one was carrying a rifle.
Members of this group, who were speaking South Sotho, allegedly asked them what they were doing in their territory.
They then fired two shots and instructed the men from Khutsong to walk further into the veld and lie with their faces to the ground. One of the men later told police that he was shot on the left ear. He then pretended to be dead, but heard many other gunshots.
After it had been quiet for a long time he started to move and realised that one of his friends also survived the shooting. Their four other friends passed away.
They decided to walk to the Gulf Stream filling station next to the N12, where they asked some of the pump attendants to call an ambulance to take them to Carletonville Hospital. They were treated for their injuries and later released.
Murder and attempted murder cases are currently being investigated after the two incidents.
“The DA in Gauteng is deeply troubled by the horrific event in Greenspark. When we inquired on Monday evening, it was concerning to learn that senior officials within the South African Police Service (SAPS) were unaware of this incident. This disconnect highlights the urgent need for SAPS to strengthen their presence and responsiveness in communities that are most vulnerable to such violence.”
“We believe that the safety and well-being of our communities must be a top priority. We urge SAPS to engage more closely with community members, improve intelligence gathering, and take proactive steps to prevent further tragedies. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the affected families and the entire Greenspark community during this difficult time,” says the DA’s constituency head for Merafong, Ina Cilliers.
