Wentworth and Merebank residents tremble as shootings persist in the area

DESPITE concerted efforts to stem the rising tide of violence, shootings and fatalities persistently afflicting the communities of Merebank and Wentworth, and despite the implementation of numerous crime prevention measures, the scourge of criminality persists, leaving residents grappling with an unrelenting wave of bloodshed and tragedy.

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The family of a man who was killed in a drive-by shooting in Merebank is still searching for answers following the brutal incident. Jodie Gopal was shot dead outside his home at around 19:00 on May 1.

The incident unfolded when the victim, who was feeding his three-year-old child outside of his residence with his family, was hit by a barrage of gunfire that erupted from unknown assailants.

His brother and father managed to evade the hail of bullets and escape unscathed, however, Gopal sustained serious injuries to his body and was rushed to hospital. He later died due to the seriousness of the injuries. The child was also unharmed.

His family has been left grappling with an unfathomable void. His sister, Josephine Moodley, speaking on behalf of the devastated family, expressed their anguish and disbelief at the sudden and violent end to Jodie’s life.

“We believe that the people who killed my brother were looking for someone else in the flat. They must have mistaken Jodie for another person.

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“We are still traumatised and searching for answers. His child has been booked for trauma counselling after this incident,” she said.

As the community mourns alongside the grieving family, calls for justice reverberate through the streets of Merebank with local leaders calling for the police to intensify patrols in the area.

Ward 68 councillor Aubrey Snyman has recently urged residents to be vigilant as crime is spiraling out of control in the area.

He urged the police to intensify patrols in all crime-ridden areas to ensure safety and security in the suburb.

In the wake of the tragedy, the memory of Gopal lives on, cherished by his loved ones and remembered by a community united in sorrow and determination to seek answers and justice. His friends and relatives took to social media platforms to pay tribute to him.

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Wentworth police spokesperson Captain Mbuso Gumede would not be drawn into commenting on the incident, saying the station’s management, including the head of detectives, has taken a decision to not comment on murder and attempted murder cases in the media until arrests are made. Cases of this nature cannot be [published by newspapers] unless arrests are made,” he said.

There have been several drive-by shootings in the Wentworth area between May 2023 and May 2024.

According to media reports, many victims are killed in drive-by shooting incidents.

In May last year, a 14-year-old boy was shot and injured in a shooting incident in Major Calvert Road in Wentworth.

According to a media report, a woman was struck by a stray bullet while walking on the road in April last year.

In July last year, a teenager, Leyton Fynn, was shot dead while on his way to attend holiday classes. A 17-year-old suspect was arrested for his murder.

Another victim was shot dead in a drive-by shooting that happened in Warwick Triangle in Durban. The 23-year-old Wentworth resident, Tiago Smith, died in March this year.

In January this year, a seven-year-old boy was grazed by a bullet following a shooting on Burgers Road in Wentworth. According to PT Alarms, the child was playing outside the flat when the incident happened.

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