Three killed ‘execution style’ in Mthwalume

A drive-by shooting in Mthwalume, KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday morning has left three dead.

According to police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker, the incident did not seem to be a robbery, but rather an execution.

“It is believed that the deceased were also robbed of their firearms,” Naicker added.

The victims, a driver and two passengers, were believed to have just come from a local court when they were murdered.

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They “were about to enter the main road when they were cornered by the suspects who were travelling in two vehicles”, said Naicker.

The suspects who have not yet been identified hailed fire on the three.

The assailants then fled the scene.

The motive of the shooting is still unknown and is under investigation.

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Other shootings

Another drive-by shooting left a family reeling earlier this month, after a second fatal shooting in just months.

Ntombi Mnisi, sister of Clyde Mnisi who was also shot dead a few months ago in White River, was gunned down at a McDonald’s drive-through in Mpumalanga.

Mnisi was driving a Mercedes Benz V Class at the time of the incident. It is still unclear whether the shooting incident was a robbery, hijacking gone wrong, or an assassination.

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Colonel Donald Mdhluli at the time said the police were probing a case of murder and attempted murder, searching for two armed suspects who fled in a stolen vehicle.

The 35-year-old was reportedly shot 10 times with a rifle. Mnisi succumbed to her injuries and was certified dead at the scene, while her passenger sustained injuries.

“Some empty cartridges from a rifle and a pistol were found at the scene,” said Mdhluli.

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In a separate incident, two men appeared at the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court on 14 June for shooting three children and a 30-year-old man.

The 24 and 28-year-old, faced charges of murder and attempted murder.

Four people were shot and killed at the barbershop in Qwarha Street, Site C, in Khayelitsha, on Saturday afternoon.

Police reported that unidentified men barged into the busy shop and released a hail of bullets on everyone inside.

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Seven more people were harmed in the incident, while two others left the scene unharmed. 

Western Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa confirmed that two minors, aged 11 and 12 died at the scene, with a five-year-old later succumbing to their injuries. The 30-year-old man also died at the scene.

“Western Cape Serious Violent Crime detectives have been hard at work. With the investigation unfolding, the possibility of more arrests and further charges being pursued cannot be ruled out,” said Potelwa.