A fifty-year-old man was shot in what appears to have been a farm attack near Shakaskraal yesterday afternoon.
According to Umhlali SAPS warrant officer Shaleen Ramlakan, Matthew “Kenya” Gachoki was on his way home from Umhlali Quarry when he noticed a suspicious silver golf near his driveway.
Deciding not to chance it, Gachoki made a U-turn when an unknown number of assailants opened fire on him.
“He drove into a firebreak in the canefields around his house,” Ramlakan told The Courier.
One gunshot tore through the driver’s door of his white Toyota Hilux and three more through the bonnet.
While trying to escape Gachoki apparently lost sensation in his right foot and jumped out of the moving vehicle into the sugar cane.
“His vehicle rolled, went out the firebreak and landed blocking the entire road.”
Gachoki suffered a gunshot wound to his right thigh.
Unconfirmed reports have suggested that in the days leading up to the attack, Gachoki was confronted by locals telling him to vacate the farm as he was Kenyan, not South African.
However despite rumours that this was a xenophobia related attack, Umhlali SAPS spokesperson Vinny Pillay said there was no evidence to support this.
Gachoki has since also denied that the attack was xenophobic.
“I have lived in the area for years and have always been made to feel welcome, Gachoki said.
“This was either a hit or an opportunistic crime.”
Marshall Security’s Kyle van Reenen said that he was treated and stabilized on scene by Netcare911, before being taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital for further care.
“A search of the surrounding area was conducted, however the suspects remain at large,” said Van Reenen.
The bullet that hit Gachoki went through the drivers’ side door. Blood can be seen here running out from the footwell. Photo: Marshall Security.
This story has been updated since it was published with the addition of Matthew Gachoki and Umhlali SAPS spokesperson Vinny Pillay’s comments regarding xenophobia.
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