[imagesource:wikimediacommons]

Yesterday afternoon, a man was shot and killed at a restaurant in Rondebosch.

Unknown attackers opened fire on the man, who was dining with a woman at the establishment on Klipfontein Road.

The gunshots caused everyone in the vicinity to scatter, forcing folks to find safety in nearby shops.

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi said officers were called to the scene at 15:20 on Thursday and found the man’s body on the floor, News24 reports.

The paramedics declared the man dead on the scene while the woman was injured and used private transport to get to the hospital:

Shooting incident. Rondebosch square, Rondebosch. 2 patients. 1 pt with critical injuries. Sadly, 1 deceased despite best efforts. @Netcare911_sa @WCGHWEMS @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/zDHMGmMhKv

— Lima Charlie 1 (@LimaCharlie1) March 16, 2023

Mowbray police are investigating a case of murder and attempted murder.

“The unknown suspects, who fled the scene, are yet to be arrested. The motive for the attack is yet to be determined,” Swartbooi confirmed.

This intense drive-by shooting occurred shortly after three suspects were arrested in Rondebosch for a kidnapping attempt.

It is alleged that the suspects had abducted a woman in Muizenberg before driving her around to draw money. She was found in distress in a vehicle that traffic officers pulled over in the vicinity.

Mayco Member for Safety and Security Alderman JP Smith said the victim was incredibly grateful to the officers for intervening when they did, “but this could have had a very different outcome”, reported IOL:

After stopping the suspects’ vehicle the officers picked up on tension between the occupants, and on interviewing the woman, she told them she had been kidnapped earlier in Muizenberg and had been forced to accompany the suspects as they attempted to withdraw funds from her bank account.

The country has seen a devastating scourge of kidnapping and extortion in recent months, and despite a few arrests, the trend only seems to be getting worse.

[source:news24&iol]