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UPDATE: Witness speaks out on Westmead shooting

A seemingly ordinary commute to work ended in tragedy, when a man was shot and killed in Westmead.

Commuter killed in Westmead shooting

A COLLEAGUE of the  30-year-old man who was shot and killed  on Surprise Road in Westmead on Wednesday  4 June have opened up about the shooting after witnessing the incident.

Eric Phungula reported that he and the deceased had traveled in a taxi from Shongweni. At a taxi rank on Richmond Road they met the victim’s uncle.

The three men, who work together in Albizia Road, continued walking to Surprise Road. They were unaware that a fourth man had followed them from the taxi rank.

“The only thing we heard were gun shots and then we saw him [the deceased] fall to the ground. There was no warning and no demand.

“We did not know the man who shot him, but I immediately recognised him as one of the men that had traveled with us on the taxi.

“The uncle began to fight the shooter and tried to grab the gun from him. During the struggle the shooter dropped the gun and he ran on foot,” said Phungula.

According to Phungula his colleague was shot more than eight times, in the back. Derrick Banks, ER24 spokesman, said paramedics declared the man dead at the scene.

Lt Bongumusa Manqele, the Pinetown SAPS communications officer, said police recovered the gun at the scene, next to the body.

Sandi Korb, another colleague and friend of the deceased, told the Highway Mail he left behind several younger siblings whom he supported.

“He was such a friendly and cheerful person, who was always willing to go the extra mile to help others. We are all extremely sad and shocked by his death.

“It has all been very surreal. I keep expecting him to walk in the room or phone the office,” said Korb.

Manqele confirmed that a case of murder had been opened at the station.

“No arrests have been made, but police are still investigating. The motive behind the shooting is still unknown at this stage,” said Manqele.

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