The community of Kraaifontein is reeling in shock after two young women were shot dead in the early hours of Monday morning.
Mother of three Arlene Manuel, 28, and pregnant Milandre van Wyk, 27, were gunned down in
Milner Road in Scottsville during load shedding.
Community members found the two friends lying next to each other, head-to- head, against the wall of the Old Apostolic Church.
Arlene’s devastated family has no idea why she was killed.
Mother of three Arlene Manuel, 28. Picture supplied
A 40-year-old relative who preferred to remain anonymous said: “Arlene was a single mother of three, her youngest child is only three-years-old and very attached to her.
“We still saw her yesterday. I cannot believe this.
“I don’t know how her
children are going to cope with her death as she was everything to them.”
Residents said they heard seven gunshots in the early hours of the morning but only discovered the bodies of the two women when the sun came out.
Community members were afraid to speak to the media out of fear that “they may be next”.
A 35-year-old relative of Milandre says she was pregnant.
Milandre was three months pregnant. Picture supplied
“Milandre was about three months pregnant when she was shot dead.
“People on the scene rushed to our house to say one of the victims shot was Milandre,” the devastated woman says.
When she got to the scene, she says her worst nightmare came true.
“I identified Milandre from her shoes which were sticking out from underneath the white sheet she was covered with.
“The two of them were friends, they were lying with their heads against each other. For close friends to die together, it’s sad,” she added.
MURDER SCENE: Bodies of the two friends lying head-to-head
Community spokesperson, Carl Solomons, says the community came out and prayed at the scene.
“Today we’re joining hands to stop the cruel murders in Scottsville,” he said.
“We’re heartbroken because these are known children and mothers within our community.
“It’s tragic to know they were shot dead in the space between two churches.”
STOP THE VIOLENCE: Community praying at crime scene.
Police spokesperson, Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana, confirmed the murders.
“Please be advised that a double murder case has been opened for investigation after two females, aged 27 and 28, were shot and killed in Milner Road, Scottsville, Kraaifontein, about 3.45am,” he says.
“The circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation and the detectives are following up on leads in an effort to bring the perpetrators to book.
The police spokesperson also urged anyone with information on the double murder to contact Kraaifontein SAPS on 021 980 5500.