A man – possibly a traditional healer – was killed near Tongaat after being shot three times in the early hours of Monday morning by a group of men posing as police.
The attack occurred at Shortlands Riding Centre between Tongaat and Verulam, where the victim was employed as a groom.
According to sources close to the riding centre, who asked not to be identified, four men approached the security gate in the early hours, two wearing what appeared to be police clothes and two in plain clothes. The car they drove apparently also had blue lights.
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The men approached the guard on duty from Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), saying they were looking for a man by the name of “Mike” and showing the guard a letter purportedly from the SAPS. The guard told them he did not know any Mike and the group left.
They returned a short while later and two of the men jumped out of the vehicle and handcuffed the security guard, taking him along and forcing him to point out where the victim lived. It is understood that the men then released him.
Kicking down the door to the sleeping victim’s room, the men shot him three times – in the arm, stomach and head – in what appears to have been a cold-blooded murder.
Shortlands Riding Centre’s Ann Oliss extended her heartfelt condolences to the victim’s family and friends.
“We are absolutely devastated by this tragedy, the senseless violence – both in this case and in the wider area – has left us feeling broken.”
Oliss thanked RUSA for their speedy response in getting emergency services to the scene, though unfortunately the victim later died in hospital. She described him as a well mannered, humble and quiet person.
While details are still sketchy, it is rumoured that the murder may be linked to traditional healing, with claims both that the victim was a traditional healer and that he was killed for muthi purposes. It is still unclear at this point what the motive for this brutal attack was.
When contacted for details, a spokesperson for the Tongaat SAPS could not confirm whether an investigation had been launched or where the men could have obtained police gear, saying only: “I’m busy.”
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