A man was shot and killed in what appears to have been a targeted hit in Westham, Phoenix, KwaZulu-Natal, on Sunday evening.
According to emergency responders, the Phoenix shooting took place on Drinham Close shortly after 8pm (20:19 SAST).
Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), a private emergency and security service, confirmed that their officers were called to the scene after reports of gunfire. When they arrived, they found a man lying on the road with multiple gunshot wounds.
Paramedics assessed the victim but declared him dead at the scene.
RUSA spokesperson Prem Balram said witnesses described seeing a white bakkie (pickup truck) driving slowly along Drinham Close just moments before the attack.
“An eyewitness informed Reaction Officers that the victim was standing on the road when a white bakkie drove past. Three gunshots were fired from the vehicle as the male walked away. The bakkie fled the scene immediately,” said Balram.
Three spent rifle cartridges were found on the road near the victim’s body, suggesting that a high-powered weapon was used.
The attackers are believed to have fired from inside the vehicle before speeding away. No registration number or identifying details of the vehicle were recorded.
Police have launched an investigation into the killing. While the motive has not been confirmed, officers say early indications suggest it was a planned execution rather than a random act of violence.
Detectives from the Phoenix SAPS are now reviewing CCTV footage from nearby homes and businesses in an attempt to track down the suspects.
Residents of Westham told reporters that gunfire in the area is becoming worryingly common.
“We heard three loud shots and then screaming. It’s terrifying because this is a residential street with children playing outside during the day,” said one local who asked not to be named for safety reasons.
Although the motive for the attack remains unclear, police sources told the media that the style of shooting, quick, close-range bursts from a moving vehicle, matches that of targeted hits linked to ongoing disputes or revenge attacks in the Durban North region.
Meanwhile, police have urged anyone with information about the Phoenix shooting to come forward.
“We appeal to the community to assist in bringing those responsible to justice,” said KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda.
“No arrest has been made at this stage, but investigations are progressing.”
The shooting in Phoenix follows another violent attack in Alexandra, Johannesburg, earlier the same day, where a businessman was shot dead in what also appeared to be a planned hit.
While there is no known link between the two incidents, authorities have expressed concern about the rising number of targeted assassinations in South Africa, often involving high-calibre firearms.
Police are expected to release further details once the victim’s family has been formally notified and more evidence is gathered from the crime scene.