A father died a hero after he threw his body over his baby as gangsters opened fire on them.
Ashwin Martins, 25, was visiting his one-year-old daughter when he was shot in Wesbank on Sunday around 9pm.
The family believes skollies stole his baby mama’s phone to lure him to the area.
The baby’s aunt, who asked not to be named, explains that her sister lost her phone close to a shop: “She called the phone and it rang until the call was diverted to Ashwin and she told him that her phone had been stolen.
“He went to see her and his baby because he was planning to do that anyway that day.
“They tracked the phone on Google and they saw that the person who had taken the phone was close to them.”
The shaken aunt says gunmen walked up to them and just started shooting.
“My little niece was standing by the gate with her parents and the father’s friend,” she says.
“When they looked at the suspects, they just shot at them. My niece was hit in the hand and chest, the bullet went through to the back.
“Ashwin covered his daughter but unfortunately he died on top of her.
“My sister had to pull her baby from under Ashwin and they rushed her to the hospital.
“Ashwin’s friend was also taken to hospital where he died on Tuesday.
“The suspects emptied the cartridges on them.”
The aunt admits that Ashwin was a gangster but changed his life when his daughter was born, although he and her sister had broken up by then.
“He changed his life for the better, he found a job and he was working. He was a good, devoted father, he would take her to the clinic for check-ups, he loved his daughter so much.”
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk says Ashwin was declared dead at the scene.
“A one-year-old baby and a 32-year-old man who sustained injuries were transported to nearby hospitals for medical treatment,” he says.
“According to reports, the deceased and the victims were inside the premises when a vehicle stopped in front of the premises. An unknown male approached and fired numerous gunshots.
“The unknown suspects fled the scene and are yet to be arrested. Mfuleni Police are investigating a case of murder and attempted murder.”