Gary Moodley (62), a businessman from Pietermaritzburg, was shot dead in his car outside the Invesco Centre at around 02:00 on Monday morning.

Moodley was reportedly shot in his chest.

Director of RZS Protection Radley Govender, whose team provides security to the centre, said that on hearing the gun shot, the guards on duty ran towards the direction of the shot.

“My guards were the first on the scene. It was around the time when the clubs in the vicinity close. The roads were a bit busy, as people were going home.

“The guards had noticed a stationary grey vehicle on the road. The gates were closed. Then, suddenly, they heard gunshots. They ran towards the direction to see what happened and saw a couple of suspects running towards a getaway vehicle.

“This is the first time in the last four years that an incident like this has occurred. It is usually a safe area,” said Govender.

Shammy Govender, of Assist Me Now, remembered Moodley as ‘a very generous man’, who always put his community first.

“He was always ready to assist us with whatever donations we needed, in all areas of aid, throughout the city. When we contacted him he would always assist us. He provided us with lots of bread, especially when he was with Spar,” Govender said.

Pietermaritzburg police confirmed a case of murder is being investigated. “A body of a 62-year-old man was found inside the vehicle with a gunshot wound on the chest after being shot by unknown suspects. The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated,” said police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala.