The horror shooting at the Ezakheni Mall on Friday evening appears to have been a ‘hit’. The five occupants of the car were shot in an almost military style hit. Nothing was taken in the shooting and it appears that the gunmen intended to kill everyone in the car.

Four of the occupants died at the scene, while another occupant, believed to be the driver, is in hospital being kept alive on a ventilator. It is believed that two married couples were leaving the Roots Butchery (where they worked) at the Ezakheni Mall. A fifth employee was also in the car. The car they were travelling in was ambushed within sight of the mall.

They had stopped their car to remove rocks that had been placed in the road. The driver got out of the car to move the rocks. An Isuzu bakkie pulled up next to them and gunmen opened fire without warning, shooting at the driver as he moved the rocks and at the still-seated occupants in the car. The driver collapsed and it is believed that the killers thought he was dead. He is the sole survivor of the ambush. It is unknown why they were targeted, as robbery appears not to have been a motive.

All that is known is that four children no longer have parents.

Facebook comment: Sithembile Refuge Zikalala: I was there. I saw it all……God, please take Your stand *crying all night*. It was very very sad!