Police are on the hunt for the suspects who left several bodies in their wake after recently going on a shooting spree in Zwide.
Provincial police spokesperson, Brig. Tembinkosi Kinana, said that members from KwaZakhele Police Station responded to a shooting complaint at approximately 11:00 on Thursday in Johnson Street, Zwide.
When police arrived at the scene, they found two vehicles, a blue Suzuki and yellow Opel Kadett, stationary in the street. Both vehicles were riddled with bullet holes.
“A person believed to be the driver of the Opel was fatally wounded and the bodies of three other victims were found lying in the street, next to the vehicles,” Kinana explained.
“A fifth male victim was found with multiple gunshot wounds in his body and rushed to a local hospital for medical treatment.
“Police also recovered two 9mm firearms that were found on the scene. An intensive search for the suspects is currently underway; however no arrests have been made at this stage,” he said.
The names and ages of the deceased will be released after a formal identification has been done. The Provincial Organised Crime Investigation team in Nelson Mandela Bay is investigating four counts of murder and one case of attempted murder.
Kinana added that the recovered firearms would be sent for ballistic testing.
“The motive for the murders is not known at this stage and all possible leads will be followed up on.”
Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene, has expressed shock at the brutal killing of the four people and had ordered the activation of the 72-hour mobilisation plan in order to trace and track down those responsible for the murders.
“Taking the lives of others seems to be a culture in some areas of the Eastern Cape. I am going to ensure that such a foreign culture does not survive any longer in my province.
“We shall nip it in the bud wherever and whenever it manifests. It must stop now, rather than later and the culprits must be found,” she said.
Anyone who can assist the police with the investigation and in tracking and tracing the suspects, is requested to contact Provincial Organised Crime’s Detective Sergeant, Mvuyiseko Xhayimpi ,on 079 896 7010 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
Callers may remain anonymous and all information will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
