Bonteheuwel residents are in shock after a 31-year-old man was shot dead while sleeping outside his family home.
The incident occurred just after midnight on Tuesday.
Davin Prince says his brother Chadwin had been living on the street near Mimosa Primary in Vlamboom Street for the last three years and has become the latest victim of gun violence in the area.
“Chadwin was a drug addict and after he came out of rehab, he was sleeping on a mattress here across from the house.
“So after 12 Monday night, he was sleeping when a lady came shouting, ‘hulle het vir Wana (Chadwin) geskiet’.
“When we came outside, we saw his body lying there and the blood was all over the ground.
“I have no idea why anybody would want to shoot him because he did not bother any of the gangsters here in the area.
“During the day he would go to the shop for people and do small jobs just to get money so he can get by.
“There was no reason for them to shoot him like that, especially while the bra was sleeping.”
A male resident who witnessed the shooting said four men approached 31-year-old Chadwin while he was sleeping and without any warning, they fired multiple times before running away.
“Wana was sleeping and these four brasse just walked up and then one bra put his foot on his neck and started shooting,” says the shocked witness.
“I know that one of the guys is a 15-year-old laaitie and he is a HL (Hard Livings gangster).
“They are apparently coming here in the road for retaliation because the gangsters that live near us shot another HL, so this shooting is for revenge, but now they got an innocent bra who was sleeping, that is just cowardly behaviour.”
Residents threw sand on the blood at the scene and burnt Chadwin’s bloody mattress.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi said Bishop Lavis police responded to the scene.
“Upon arrival at the scene at about 1am, they found the body of an unknown man who sustained gunshot wounds to his body.
“The unknown suspects fled the scene and are yet to be arrested,” he said.