Tributes and condolences have poured in for Jason Bailey, the well-known car guard who died in hospital on Saturday morning.

Bailey was shot in the back by unknown gunmen on Wednesday June 3. 

An off-duty fireman and nurse assisted Bailey at the scene with community members, until an ambulance arrived but Bailey succumbed to his injuries on Saturday morning.

Strandfontein Community Police Forum (CPF) chair, Sandy Schuter, was at the scene when Bailey was shot and said posted about the incident on the CPF’s WhatsApp channel.

She has since been inundated with requests for information about his condition. Yesterday, Schuter posted saying that she had been in contact with Bailey’s father and he had passed away.

It read: “Jason has sadly passed away. Please keep Jason’s family  in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

Outpouring

Schuter said that after it was posted, she was inundated with messages about Bailey.

“Jason always had a friendly disposition and a joke or two to share whenever we interacted on our grocery runs; always chat ready and willing to help with a smile and fist bump,” one message said.

Another commented that he was always well-mannered and always had a friendly greeting. 

“And when you drove away from Spar — ‘Have a good day or evening further’.”

One woman said that he was never disrespectful, even if he didn’t get a tip.

“A respectful guy. Always greeting with a smile and offering to help push your trolley. He still smiled even if you had nothing to give him that day.”

A local businessman said: “Jason was a cheerful fellow, and he always had something nice or useful to say. I miss him.”

Rozita Mars said: “I’ve known Jason for a very long time. He used to live around the corner for years before his mother passed away.

“No matter his circumstances, he was a very respectable guy. Very decent, his mother raised him so well.”

Mars went on to say that on the same day he was shot, Bailey had told her family, he wanted to speak to his father because he wanted to seek treatment for his addicition.

“Sadly he never got that opportunity. My heart is so broken. It’s so sad what is happening in our community,” she said.

A woman who identified herself as Mrs Murray said: “When I read the news that Jason had passed. I sat crying as if it was my child. He was such a sweet soul, always so polite an helpful, especially with us as seniors. Helping to put our bags to put in the car. May his soul rest in peace. He will always be remembered.”

TygerBurger reached out to Bailey’s family for comment but they were still grieving and did not want to speak to the press.

TygerBurger also reached out to police for information on how the case was progressing. 

Police spokesperson, Constable Ndakhe Gwala, said the investigation remains active.

“Anyone with information that might assist is kindly requested to contact Crime Stop anonymously on 08600 10111 or utilise the MySAPS mobile application,” she said.

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