Two Spaza Shop Workers Gunned Down In Khayelitsha Bread Delivery Attack

Two men were shot and killed in Harare, Khayelitsha, on Friday afternoon while offloading bread at a spaza shop.

The incident occurred in Gaya Street at approximately 3:30pm on 17 April 2026. The victims, a 24-year-old Malawian national and a 35-year-old Somalian national, sustained fatal gunshot wounds to their upper bodies.

According to initial reports, three unidentified suspects approached the victims and opened fire before fleeing the scene.

Police Investigation Underway, No Arrests Yet

Police spokesperson FC van Wyk confirmed that a case of double murder has been registered.

“This office confirms that Harare police registered two counts of murder following a shooting incident that occurred at Gaya Street, Harare, on Friday, 17 April 2026, at about 3.30pm.

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“Police responded to reports of a shooting, and upon arrival, they found the bodies of a 24-year-old Malawian male and a 35-year-old Somalian, both with gunshot wounds on their upper bodies.

“According to reports, the deceased were offloading a bread delivery when three unknown suspects came and opened fire, then fled. The motive for the shooting is unclear at this stage, and no arrest has been made,” Van Wyk said.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Possible Spaza Shop Extortion

Ward councillor Anele Gabuza indicated that extortion may be a contributing factor in such incidents.

“The issue of extortion is ongoing. We are trying to tackle the issue as we have patrollers and Neighbourhood Watch members who are working together with the South African Police Service so that we can prevent crime and violence in our respective ward,” Gabuza said.

Authorities have not confirmed a motive at this stage.