THE KZN Anti-Gang Unit has launched a manhunt for a 21-year-old Wentworth man, wanted by police for the murder of Myron Snyman (40), the nephew of Ward 68 councillor Aubrey Snyman.
Myron, an artisan and a father of one, was seated in the bedroom of his home on October 1, at about 14:00, when the suspect, a member of the cartel gang, who is currently out on bail for the murder of 15-year-old Joran Jacobs after being accused of killing him in a drive-by shooting last year, forcefully entered the premises.
Captain Mbuso Gumede, spokesperson for the Wentworth police station, said the suspect walked to the room, where Myron was seated, and without uttering a word, drew a firearm and shot him once.
“The bullet struck him in the upper region of the chest. He was certified dead on the scene by the paramedics. Attempts were made to trace the suspect with negative results, however, informers were tasked to contact the police if the suspect is seen,” Gumede said.
Four days earlier, on September 26, at about 21:28, the suspect, along with four other men, were shot at during a drive-by shooting while they were seated in a vehicle parked along Silvertree Road. The suspect was shot in the arm, while a 17-year-old, Quelin Scevers, was killed after he sustained gunshot wounds to the left hip.
ALSO READ: Policewoman charged for shooting boyfriend in Montclair gets bail
Scevers died in Wentworth Hospital shortly after the shooting, while the three other men survived.
“Three cartridges and projectiles were found at the scene. It is alleged that there was a white Polo parked along Silvertree Road, with five occupants seated inside, when a white van opened fire on them while passing the vehicle. The driver of the polo and one passenger fled the scene on foot. One of the passengers drove the vehicle to Wentworth Hospital. The teenager, who was also in the car, was declared dead on arrival. Police are investigating one case of murder and four cases of attempted murder,” Gumede said.
Dodging bullets and missing another hit on his life, the suspect was also shot at during a drive-by shooting outside the Durban Magistrate’s Court on September 7.
It is alleged that he and his friend were due to appear in court, and while they were walking from their vehicle to the court, they were shot at. A court official was also hit by a stray bullet and sustained injuries on the thigh.
Aubrey said the ongoing shootings have always been close to home, as he has lived in Wentworth for the past 62 years. Although the gang-related shooting has claimed the life of his nephew, it is just as traumatising as losing any other community member.
“We have held numerous meetings, including one on October 2, to address the turf war and shootings. I sympathise with all those who have been subjected to the violence and have lost loved ones. We know that the community is traumatised, and we pray for peace, once again, in Wentworth,” Aubrey said.
Community leader Tracey Williams said residents in Wentworth no longer live in a ward, but a turf-war area, and added that the drug-related shootings have been spiralling out of control in a manner that will be difficult to turn around, given that residents have had to hide indoors as over 150 gunshots were heard the past weekend.
“Every day there is a shooting. If someone is not injured or dead, bullets shatter windows and homes of innocent residents who are forced to take cover. We need an intervention and more police visibility. We saw that police hosted a huge parade last week, but there is no police visibility during the night, when it is really needed. The street lights on most roads are not working, making it easier for these brazen young men to walk around spraying bullets. These murders will not stop until there is urgent intervention from all relevant authorities tasked to maintain and clean up the community,” Williams added.
For more from Southlands Sun, follow us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also follow us on Instagram.
