Residents in St. Montague Village, Steenberg woke up to the gruesome discovery of the bodies of a couple found gunned down in their hokkie on Thursday.
Mom of three, Francis Arendorf, 48, and her long-time boyfriend, Conrad Petersen, 40, were shot multiple times inside their Village Heights home.
Conrad was found lying on the bed, while Francis was slumped over the toilet.
Francis’ sister, Gabriella Rhode, 47, says she heard about her sister’s death while en route to Wynberg.
“On my way to Wynberg, I got someone who lives near my sister. This person stopped me to say my sister has been shot.
“She did not deserve this, she was such a sensitive person,” a tearful Gabriella says.
She says she feared for her sister because the skollies always hang out near their house and there are always shootings.
“What hurts the most is the fact that I have been to Steenberg SAPS many times and asked them for protection for my sister and they did nothing,” Gabriella says.
“Police are scared of these gangsters, so what about us?”
She says Francis was a casual worker at a clothing factory and Conrad did odd jobs.
“We don’t know why they were killed, hulle was nie daardie soorte mense nie. Conrad was not a gangster,” adds Gabriella.
Conrad’s sister, Tashreeqah Petersen, 27, says he lived with his mom on the other side of Village Heights and was sleeping over by Francis.
The couple did not have any children together.
Tashreeqah says when he did not come home on Wednesday morning, they went looking for him, which is when they heard about the shooting.
“He was a very loving person. He helped anyone in the area who needed help. On Wednesday night he did not come home and then someone came to say Francis was dead,” she says.
“We then started looking for Conrad, shouting for him.
“Someone then went inside Francis’ house and found them. He was on the bed and she was found on the toilet.”
Police spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk, confirmed a double murder is under investigation.
“The circumstances surrounding a shooting incident earlier on Thursday at about 7 am in 4th Avenue, Village Heights, St. Montague Village, in Steenberg, where a 48-year-old female and a 40-year-old male were shot and fatally wounded are under investigation,” he said.
“The suspect(s) is unknown and are yet to be arrested.”