Durban — An off-duty policeman was shot in the leg, in the crossfire between two rival drug gangs on Woodville Road in Wentworth on Sunday night.
His neighbour who he was standing alongside was shot in the leg and buttocks.
It is alleged that three men alighted from a white Toyota Etios and fired multiple shots in their direction.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Nqobile Gwala said two counts of attempted murder were opened at Wentworth police station.
Meanwhile, police detectives are still searching for the shooters involved in the murder of alleged drug kingpin Ravi Chetty in Sydenham on Thursday.
Chetty, 51, a prominent underworld figure, was reportedly with three others in his white ML 350 Mercedes Benz at midday.
He had stopped in a bus by-lane on Randles Road, outside the Lenmed Shifa Private Hospital, to collect cash from one of his employees managing his drug operation in Georgehill Road.
A source said a white Polo was parked in the bus stop lane across from Chetty. The driver made a U-turn. At the time, two of Chetty’s associates were standing outside his vehicle. The third was seated next to Chetty in the passenger seat.
“The Polo stopped alongside Chetty’s Mercedes. The front and back seat passengers opened fire with rifles. Chetty was known to have bullet-resistant glass fitted in his cars. The source said the rifle was close to the window.
“They concentrated all the bullets in one area. The first shots shattered the window, the next burst weakened the glass allowing some bullets to pierce and strike Chetty approximately five times on his body,” said a source.
It is alleged that armour-piercing rounds were used. More than 10 rounds struck Chetty’s vehicle. The associate in the car was shot in the shoulder and is believed to be under police guard in hospital. A bystander said when police arrived Chetty’s vehicle was still idling while he was slumped in the driver’s seat.
Police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said Sydenham police were investigating a murder and attempted murder case. She said the motive for the killing was unknown. Inside Chetty’s car police found three licensed firearms; a shotgun protector, a handgun and a high-powered rifle.
Police believe the shooting was drug-related and linked to a turf war. Chetty is alleged to have hired men from Cape Town for more than a decade, to assist him to take over the drug trade in the Sydenham area. The fight over the trade has claimed the lives of several people including bystanders in Sydenham Heights flats. Residents said they have been living in fear.
Speaking on condition of anonymity residents said there were shootings on Friday and Saturday at C Block, where Chetty was based. A source said this was Chetty’s routine daily stop as well as pick-up (point) at his other business in Matlock Road in Sydenham. The premises, in an abandoned building, on Georgehill Road, allegedly have a room where drug users purchased drugs and consumed them. “We need to reclaim our communities and restore law and order. Everyone must speak with one voice.”
Chetty of Cowies Hill in Pinetown, survived an assassination attempt in 2019, and in 2012, when he was shot 13 times at Suncoast Casino. He was a fitness fanatic and participated in many Ironman events in SA. His funeral is still being arranged.
Daily News