A disabled man from Delft, Cape Town, was one of three men murdered in a mass shooting while gathered around a fire during load shedding.
The heartbroken sister of Shelton February, 35, says she has lost the last member of her family in the shooting on Sunday night, which left three friends dead and two others injured.
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Margaret van der Heever claims she was not at home at the time of the shooting on Eendrag Crescent, but she was told her brother had stood by the fire to stay warm.
“He had a facial deformity since birth and spent most of his time at home. He worked for a delivery company for many years.
“I am still in shock and ask why this had to happen to Shelton. He was the only family I had,” Margaret added.
Nathan Manual, the sister of the second deceased, said Shelton and her brother were chatting with their friend Matthew Koopman at the time of the incident.
“My brother Nathan was shot twice … in the head and mouth,” she explained.
“My brother did not work but they all knew he wasn’t a gangster and we are not feeling lekker knowing they killed him like that. All three of them are friends and grew up together.”
Koopman’s relatives could not be reached on Thursday.
Police spokesperson Andrè Traut has confirmed the incident, adding: “SAPS detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of three men aged between 28 and 36 and the attempted murder of two men whose ages are yet to be determined, in Delft.
“At around 8.25pm, three unknown gunmen opened fire at the victims at a residence in Eendrag Crescent in Voorbrug before fleeing the scene empty-handed.
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“While the suspects are being sought, detectives are looking at all possibilities to determine a motive for the attack.”
MEC for Police oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen, said this is the second mass shooting in the area in just two weeks, after four people were fatally shot at the end of last month.
“This latest shooting incident is another demonstration of how critical it is to find various and alternative ways of addressing murders in the Delft area,” he added.
“As the Western Cape government, we have already ensured additional Leap boots on the ground, with a further 68 officers being deployed since 1 July. The area now has 141 Leap officers, which is the biggest deployment in a single area.”
Allen has asked residents of Delft to assist in the hunt for the murderers.
Anybody with information regarding the shooting can contact Crime Stop anonymously at 08600 10111 or through the mobile application My SAPS.
