The police are investigating a murder case following a fatal shooting incident in Welkom that appears to have stemmed from a dispute over communal grazing rights.
The police in Welkom were called to a murder scene in Rheederpark on Sunday 8 March, at approximately 09:00. At the scene, the officers discovered a 37-year-old man with three gunshot wounds – one sustained to the head and two to the right thigh.
According to information gathered by police, the victim was walking through an open field with friends in the early hours of the morning when they were accosted by a group of men who opened fire, fatally wounding the deceased.
The incident allegedly originated from an altercation that erupted earlier that evening at a liquor establishment, where two groups of herders had argued over communal pastures.
The shooting highlights ongoing tensions over grazing rights in the area, where competition for suitable pastureland has led to disputes between different groups of livestock owners.
No arrests have been made at this stage, and investigations are continuing.
The police are appealing to the community for assistance in identifying and locating the suspects involved in the fatal shooting.
Anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the alleged suspects is urged to come forward. Det. Sgt Katleho Nketsi can be contacted on 072 198 0697, or the public can contact the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111. Anonymous tip-offs may also be sent through the My SAPS app.
