What began as an ordinary Thursday evening commute ended in shocking violence for a municipal official in KwaZulu-Natal.
The 51-year-old, a Deputy Superintendent in the eThekwini Department of Roads and Stormwater, was fatally shot in what appears to be a planned hit while driving through Redcliffe on July 3, 2025.
Sudden Gunfire Turns Routine Drive into a Tragedy
It was just before 7pm when frantic calls started flooding the Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) Operations Centre.
Witnesses had heard gunshots ring out at the intersection of Hazelmere Drive and Quarry Road.
Responders rushed to the scene to find a blue Hyundai i10 riddled with bullets.
Inside the vehicle, the municipal official was found slumped over, having suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Tragically, he had already succumbed to his injuries by the time paramedics arrived.
Passengers Caught in the Crossfire
The horror didn’t end with the death of the driver.
His 32-year-old girlfriend, who was riding in the car with him, was shot in the buttocks.
Another passenger—a colleague from work—was grazed by a bullet across his back.
Both were injured as they scrambled to escape the vehicle under fire.
According to reports, the three had just been heading home when they were ambushed by three men waiting by the roadside.
Without warning, the gunmen opened fire on the vehicle, continuing to shoot at the driver even as his passengers fled for their lives.
Gunmen Escape as Evidence Lingers
After the attack, the suspects reportedly fled the scene on foot in an unknown direction.
When police arrived, they recovered 13 spent 9mm cartridges scattered across the area—clear evidence of the brutal and calculated nature of the shooting.
At this point, the motive behind the targeted killing remains unclear, but the case is being treated with urgency by law enforcement.
No arrests had been reported at the time of publication.
Growing Concerns Over Attacks on Public Servants
This disturbing incident raises pressing concerns about the safety of municipal officials and government workers, especially in KwaZulu-Natal, a region that has witnessed a troubling rise in targeted killings over recent years.
Residents and community groups are now asking urgent questions: What’s fueling this violence? And more importantly—how can it be stopped?