Family of slain community leader seek justice

The bereaved family of Godfrey “Brenga” Gouwe are still puzzled by the death of their loved one more than two months after he was gunned down in Mapiti, zone 7, Ga-Rankuwa.

Gouwe was shot and killed in full view of the community on July 8. He sustained seven gunshot wounds after being shot by two unknown assailants while community members were waiting to get water due to an outage.

Gouwe was a beloved community leader and member of the Tebogwana high school governing body.

Neo Cynthia Gouwe (38) said she was having a hard time dealing with the loss of her husband.

“We met in 1999 when I was still in high school. We have been together ever since,” she said.

Cynthia and her late husband have two children, Omphemetse (18) and Tshegofatso (16).

“He was my best friend. My everything. I do not know how I am supposed to continue without him,” she said.

Cynthia recalled the day she lost her partner. The last time she saw him was before he left to go and help distribute water to the community members a short distance from his house.

“I was taking a bath and I told him we were almost out of water. He promised that he’d bring us more water the following day,” she said.

This was the last time Cynthia would see her husband alive.

The couple’s son Omphemetse also recalled the last conversation he had with his father as he was leaving to attend to the community.

“He told me to leave the gate unlocked because he’d be back soon,” he said.

Omphemetse also left the house soon after, to go buy biscuits at a nearby tuck-shop.

As he was making his way back home, he heard gunshots in the near distance.

He said he saw community members fleeing from the direction of the water distribution point.

Confused by the turn of events, Omphemetse waited for about two minutes before running towards the direction where the residents came from.

He found his father’s lifeless body in the car. Cynthia arrived at the scene soon after.

“Those who were there said that a white VW Golf 7 without number plates was parked around the corner and had been there for a while,” said Cynthia.

She said Gouwe and his colleagues were about to move to the next neighbourhood when the unknown assailants fired warning shots.

“As he was about to drive off, they fired multiple bullets at his car.

“When I arrived at the scene, I was in disbelief and I kept asking them to call the ambulance.”

It has been two months since his tragic death and still no arrests have been made.

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“His death has caused me a lot of heartache. It has not been easy without him. Maybe if he had not gone out that day he would not have died,” said Cynthia.

The family said even though there were a lot of witnesses, none of them has come forward to the police. The witnesses claimed they were fearful for their lives.

“Who knew serving the community would lead to death.”

Gouwe will be remembered by his loved ones for his dedication to his family and the community.

“He was a people’s person and was always happy. He did not hold any grudges.”

Omphemetse hopes to pursue a career in electrical engineering. He will always remember his father for being supportive and encouraging him to get educated.

Ga-Rankuwa police spokesperson Shimi Tsheole said the police have not made any arrests and no other information can be revealed yet.

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