Man going to work killed between two blocks of flats (LISTEN)
ALEXANDRA - A 30 year old Alex man was gunned at dawn 4 August on his way to work leaving behind no trace of evidence except for the sound of one gun shot heard by neighbours including a local counsellor.
A 30-year-old Alex man was gunned down on 4 August on his way to work, leaving behind no trace of evidence except for the sound of one gunshot heard by neighbours, including a local counsellor.
Stephen Diale, who resided at Boikhutsong Flats on 5th Avenue, was found lying down between two blocks of flats with one gunshot wound to the head.
The local counsellor, Chris Mabunda, who occupies a flat next to where Diale was found, said the incident happened at around 6.45am when people had already started walking to taxis on their way to work.
“ I heard one gunshot, peeped outside but saw nothing, and presumed it was from a gun firing elsewhere or was from a blast from a tripped electric line,” said Mabunda.
He said there was no associated sound of a struggle and only got to hear that someone had been killed when another resident taking children to school came to inform him. Later, others who had gathered around the body identified the victim.
“That’s when I asked block security members to inform his family while I contacted the Alex Police Station and their Joint Operating Command Office – which didn’t respond until I got through to the station commander, Colonel Nhluvuko Zondo who came to the scene with some police,” said Mabunda.
“Meanwhile, the ambulance had already arrived and emergency management services personnel had certified the victim dead.”
LISTEN: Councillor Mabunda speaks to Alex News in an exclusive interview after a man was gunned down at the Boikhutsong Flats in Alexandra:
https://soundcloud.com/user528046609/mabunda1
The deceased’s distraught family expressed shock at the incident. The mother, Mapitsi Diale said, as a punctual person, Stephen had, as usual, bathed, had a meal and departed – only for the family to get a knock on the door from the block committee members who informed them of his death. “What baffles us is the… [motive] as his two cellphones, wallet with money and belongings in a small bag – nothing that was on him was taken,” she said.
Hesitant to speculate, his brother, Thabo Diale, said Stephen was a humble person without grudges. “This area is not a safe place and probably he had seen someone committing a crime and had to be killed to eliminate witnesses.”
Concurring on the lack of safety, Councillor Mabunda said the concern had been reported to the police.
Meanwhile, the deceased is in the government mortuary pending burial, and the family and the councillor said they trust that the police to catch the deceased’s killer or killers.
Is there any safe place in Alex? If not what should be done?
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