Stray bullet kills Wentworth man

A MAN who was the sole breadwinner and took care of his pensioner mom was killed when a stray bullet struck him while he was watching television in the lounge of his home in Tifflin Road, taking the death toll in Wentworth’s gang related shootings to six since the first week of March.

Craig’s Cochrain’s 73-year-old mom, Connie Cochrain, was at church at the time of the shooting on March 1, and returned home to find her son in a pool of blood in the lounge of their flat. Craig was laid to rest on March 11. Overcome by grief, Connie passed on suddenly on March 12.

While residents continue to dodge bullets and live in fear of who the next victim of sporadic shootings will be, others, who have taken it upon themselves to stand up against the violence, have come under scrutiny.

Since March 1, six people have been shot dead, including Craig Cochrain.

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In separate shootings on March 1, Leffon Henessey was gunned down in Burgess Road while Tate van der Westhuizen was shot dead in Alabama Road.

On March 6, a man known only by the name of Farrad, was shot and killed in Woodstock Road.
Wayne Houston was gunned down in a drive-by shooting between Reiger Road and Retreat Street on March 9.

Dhevan Govindasamy, PT Alarms’ Tactical Unit spokesperson, said paramedics responded to the incident and treated a man for multiple gunshot wounds.
“He was rushed to a medical facility where he succumbed to his injuries. It is alleged that the victim was visiting his mother when the shooting took place. It is further alleged that high-calibre weapons were used,” he said.

Colin Mkhize was shot and succumbed to his injuries on March 10, in Woodville Road, the same spot where aspiring chef, Mazwi Magenu, an innocent bystander, was shot at during a drive-by shooting which claimed his life, on February 1.

Community leader, Tracey Williams, who was harassed by police officers while travelling in Wentworth on March 13, said the community was tired of standing up against the violence and drug war, only to be intimidated by corrupt police officers.

Her frustration stemmed from a number of incidents where homes of residents, who were vocal to police about the corruption and stood together to address the issues affecting the community, were raided.
“Homes of women who stood against the injustices in our community, as well as that of religious leaders, were stormed by police.

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“Furniture was capsized and vulgarity was hurled at elderly residents while the real culprits’ homes were not searched and police went passed those hotspots.
“We are tired of calling Bheki Cele, our police minister, to our community and having our cries for help fall on deaf ears. Innocent people are dying. Our justice system is failing us because there are no murders which are solved.

“We are pleading with businesses to help us with boom gates and cameras at entrance and exit points in Wentworth, as well as hotspot areas.
“Security companies should assist at schools for an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon. This is like a scary dream we cannot wake up from,” said Williams.

Communications officer of the Wentworth police station, Captain Mbuso Gumede, said, “Detectives are busy investigating murder cases which occurred in the area and appeal to anyone with information to assist in their investigations. Confidentiality is guaranteed.”

To provide police with information, call Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or 10111.

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