Seven members of a prominent Parkwood family have been shot – two of them fatally – while celebrating Eid on Wednesday.
A 49-year-old relative, who asked to remain anonymous, believes they were attacked out of jealousy as they are a family of successful taxi owners and hawkers.
Two men were killed and four others are in hospital for medical treatment.
Ghareez Brenner, 32, and Ridwaan Barron, 40, were gunned down after a day with their relatives in Parkers Walk.
The female relative says a car came to pick up her cousins just before 9pm when they were attacked.
“They were leaving to their homes here in Parkwood, they were going to the car and then the shooters came from around the corner and started shooting,” she says.
“A teenage relative was coming from the shop and he was shot in the leg.”
She says they fear for their safety after the attack.
“We don’t know why they were killed and if the shooters will come back for the rest of the family.
“It could be out of jealousy because they are not gangsters and they were making an honest living and we are a prominent family.
“They sold vegetables and drove taxis, they didn’t hurt other people. They were fathers.
“Ridwaan had three children and Ghareez was a father to four young children.”
The relative says the incident has left them confused and distraught.
“This has left us broken, we are shocked and we couldn’t even get the bodies for the janaazah.
“We heard witnesses say a suspect saw Ghareez move and stood over him and fired more bullets to make sure that he was dead.
“Why do people want to hurt those who are working in an honest way?
“Why do people want to kill innocent people?”
SAPS’ André Traut has confirmed the incident.
“According to reports, the victims were sitting outside when gunshots went off and they were hit,” he says.
“The victims were taken to a medical facility for treatment and the deceased were declared dead on the scene by medical personnel.
“The motive for the shooting is yet to be established. The suspects fled the scene and are yet to be arrested.
“Cases of murder and attempted murder were opened for investigation.
“Anyone with any information about this incident is requested to contact Grassy Park SAPS on 021 700 3900 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111”