TWO friends were gunned down while on their way home from a winkel in Rolbal Street, Mitchells Plain, on Sunday night.
Shots were ringing in Beacon Valley, resulting in the fatal shooting of Ismael Johnson, 33 and his unnamed 25-year-old friend, who family members claim are innocent.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said Mitchells Plain police are investigating two counts of murder.
Van Wyk reports: “Mitchells Plain police registered two counts of murder following a shooting incident on 8 June 2025 at about 8.10pm at Rolbal Street, Beacon Valley, Mitchells Plain, where two males aged 25 and 33 were shot and fatally wounded.
“According to reports, SAPS members on duty attended to a shooting incident at the mentioned address, and on arrival they were approached by community members who pointed out to them the bodies of the two males lying in the street with several gunshot wounds.
“They were declared deceased on the scene by the medical personnel. Circumstances surrounding this shooting incident are under investigation. The motive for this incident forms part of the police investigation.”
Wareldia Johnson, sister of Ishmael, said that the two men went to the shop to buy sugar and coffee and on their way home they were killed.
She said that she suspects that it is a case of mistaken identity as there is an ongoing war between rival gangs in the community.
Wareldia explains: “At the time of the shooting we were at home when we heard the gunshots.
“We went outside and saw his friend lying in the street. People came to call us [to say] that my brother is lying on the next street in someone’s driveway.
“It seems like my brother wanted to jump over the people’s gate, but because he was shot in the leg he couldn’t get over. So they shot him five times in the head, his back and in his stomach.
“They are both innocent, neither was involved in any gangsterism or trouble.”
Wareldia said that her brother leaves behind a six-year-old daughter.