Police are investigating a case of double murder after an Elsies River couple was shot and killed in cold blood on Sunday evening.
The family believes Jessica Hendricks, 44, and her boyfriend, Paul Haai, 49, were wrongfully targeted during a gang-related attack.
The deceased woman’s brother, Africa Adams, 51, says the mother of three was making her way back to her Wendy house in Melton Road, Clarke Estate, just after 7pm on Sunday when two gunmen started chasing after someone in the street.
Africa says he was inside the Wendy house when the shooting occurred.
“She went upstairs to one of the flats where the rest of our family lives as she wanted to use the toilet,” he explains.
“It was upon her return when two men chased after someone.
“They saw the door of my sister’s Wendy house closing and mistook her for their target. They then shot at the door and she was struck by bullets.”
He says the skollies entered the Wendy house where they spotted Paul and soema shot him too.
“It was raining bullets. It’s by the grace of God that I am still alive today,” says a traumatised Africa.
The family says Jessica succumbed to her wounds about 90 minutes after the attack at home, while Paul died later that night at Elsies River Day Hospital.
Jessica’s sister, Jacqueline, 39, says they called for an ambulance but it never arrived.
“We waited for an hour and a half before the Fire and Rescue Services arrived. I feel that if the ambulance had responded to our call, my sister might still be alive today.”
She says shootings are a common occurrence where they live, but she never imagined losing her one and only sister in this way - especially on Women’s Day.
“Jessica moved in here four months ago, sy moet ma gebly het in Kriefgat dan sou sy nou nog gelewe het.”
Jacqueline says Jessica was unemployed, while Paul received a disability grant.
She says the couple had only been dating a few months and Jessica has two sons aged 13 and 27, and an eight-year-old daughter from her husband who passed away two years ago.
“Paul was definitely not a gangster, hy was ‘n rustige mannetjie,” she says.
Local Ward Councillor Christopher Jordaan urged government to crack down on skollies: “The gangsters are keeping our community hostage. It’s an indictment on our society to lose a woman on Women’s Day.”
Police spokesman Colonel André Traut confirms the incident and says no arrests have been made yet.