A young father and Islamic scholar was gunned down by heartless skollies in Eastridge while
walking to fetch water for his family.
The family of Ebrahim Lambert, 22, who was being trained as a sheikh, has been left devastated by his death.
Ebrahim, from Mitchells Plain, was apparently shot 16 times in his back.
BRUTAL: Ebrahim Lambert, 22, was shot dead in Eastridge. Photo: Supplied
His heartbroken father-in-law, Mufti Ebrahim Smith, says the young man was not a gangster, but believes he was killed in a “revenge attack”.
“On Sunday at about 11pm, Ebrahim was walking from his house in Diagonal Street to his mother’s house just a few metres down the road,” explains the mufti.
“Their water limit for the day was up and he was going to his mother’s house to get water when they ambushed him.
“I spoke to a witness who told me it was a couple of guys in a white Opel. The first shot was in the head and we found 16 casings on the scene.”
Police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana says the shooting occurred at 11.50pm and no arrests have been made.
Ebrahim’s wife, Saajidah, 20, ran to her husband when she heard he was shot.
SUDDEN LOSS: With his wife Saajidah, 20. Photo: Supplied
The young widow told her father there was “no life in him” and her husband had died instantly.
“That really broke my heart and made me cry. She told me that when she picked up his hand there was no life left in his body,” says Mufti Ebrahim.
“A week before he was killed, they celebrated their first wedding anniversary and they have a four-month-old daughter, Saarah.
“He was such a good father and she (Saajidah) is devastated. We had to take her to hospital just to get something to calm her down, but they could not put her on anything heavy [medication] because she is breastfeeding.”
Smith says the family was informed that the bullets were meant for skollies in Eastridge who allegedly went to shoot on another gang’s turf.
“We heard the gangsters in that area went to shoot in the opposition’s camp. When the opposition came back, they were searching basically for anyone and found him walking and killed him,” he adds.
Ebrahim’s janaazah was held on Monday night and he was laid to rest at Johnston Road Cemetery.
The young father was a student at Darul Iftaa Western Cape and was a sheikh in training.
“We just want justice for our son,” says Mufti Ebrahim.
TRAGIC: Ebrahim was being trained as a sheikh. Photo: Supplied. Photo: Supplied
Community Police Forum (CPF) chairperson Abie Isaacs says they are concerned about the gang shootings and innocent people being caught in the crossfire.
“We have taken the matter up and met with the provincial commissioner last week,” he says.
“We are also happy that the station commander, Brigadier Cass Goolam, was reinstated this week; because since his suspensions in October last year we have seen an increase in shootings. So now we are all working to take our streets back.”