Zoliswa Msweli (34) was found burnt to death in a vehicle on a dirt road near Sugarmill Road, inland from Port Shepstone, on September 3.

It’s believed that, before the discovery by police, a motorist with three passengers drove to a tavern in Louisiana.

The driver left the passengers inside the vehicle and went into the tavern. It is claimed that, while inside the tavern, the driver was informed that a man, unknown to him and armed with a weapon, had approached the vehicle and opened fire.

According to witnesses, the driver of the vehicle approached the shooter and asked him “what’s going on?”

The shooter then shot the driver at close range so that he lost consciousness, and proceeded to jump into his vehicle and drive away with two of the three passengers.

One of the women had managed to escape by leaping out of the vehicle. It’s believed the man shot outside the tavern was later taken to hospital.

Police spokesman, Captain Petros Mpinge confirmed the incident, and said the vehicle was later found abandoned and burnt out near Sugarmill Road.

He said the badly burnt body of Msweli was found inside the vehicle.

The male passenger was found by police nearby. He had sustained gunshot wounds and was partially burnt, but had managed to escape from the vehicle, which had been set alight.

Port Shepstone SAPS are investigating cases of murder, two attempted murders and a carjacking. No arrests have been made yet.

A friend of Msweli’s said she was a very caring, loving person with a good heart. She said Msweli was from the Eastern Cape and had come to the area looking for work opportunities.

“She was such a nice person, I can’t understand what could have gone wrong. We hope that whoever did this is caught and punished and that justice is served.”