Foreign nationals perish in Richards Bay gun attack
Two of the foreigners and one South African died in the bloody attack in the veld between ZCBF and Dollar Drive, close to the Hillside Smelter
EIGHT people, including five Tanzanian nationals, were gunned down in their bush shack in Richards Bay on Thursday evening.
Two of the foreigners and one South African died in the bloody attack in the veld between ZCBF and Dollar Drive, close to the Hillside Smelter.
Initial reports said the group had been having supper at about 8pm when unknown gunmen approached and opened fire.
A 42-year-old Tanzanian man died from gunshot wounds to the head, while his 32-year-old countryman succumbed to shots to the head and chest.
A 25-year-old woman from Nseleni perished after being shot in the chest and stomach.
All five males who survived the attack were in their twenties.
Police said the suspects fled the scene in a white VW Polo, registration unknown.
The area was cordoned off from Guldengracht road early on Friday morning as police combed the bush for other possible victims.
Although the motive is unknown at this stage, it does not appear to have been a random act.
‘Only once the survivors of Thursday’s attack have recovered and are interviewed will we know if the assailants had given a reason before they started shooting,’ said SAPS spokesperson, Captain Debbie Ferreira.
While it cannot be ruled out at this stage, it is not believed the incident was directly linked to xenophobia or to the riots that took place in the Richards Bay CBD in August, when foreigners accused of drug-related criminal activity were targeted and beaten by an angry mob.
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