Easter tragedy claims the lives of three friends
Police are investigating an allegation that the incident was related to a woman, who was picked up from a local nightclub by one of the deceased.
A fun night out enjoying the Easter festivities ended in tragedy when three friends were gunned down while sitting in their car on Langalibalele Street, Pietermaritzburg, in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Simbonge Msweli, Sphamandla Ngubane and a third yet to be identified companion were shot dead while relaxing in their car after spending the evening at a local nightclub.
A fourth friend, who sustained a gunshot wound to the arm, managed to flee the scene.
According to police, at around 5.40 am, the four men were confronted while they were drinking in their car on Sunday.
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The shooter allegedly approached the vehicle and, without saying a word, opened fire on the men, killing three and injuring the fourth.
SAPS spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said that while the motive remains unknown, police are investigating an allegation that the incident was related to a woman, who was picked up from a local nightclub by one of the deceased.
Minathi Msweli, the brother of Simbonge, said that the family was in shock after receiving the chilling news about the shooting.
“I did not imagine myself ever preparing for my brother’s funeral, at least not this early in my life.”
He left us too soon and I am not sure if I will be able to cope without him
Another friend said he would never forget the sight of seeing one of the victim’s mothers crying in the arms of a police officer after she had arrived at the scene.
“It was one of the most heartbreaking things I have ever witnessed.
“I am not sure whose mother she was but no parent deserves to go through that much pain,” said the friend.
Msweli was originally from Mtubatuba but was now living in Pietermaritzburg.
On Sunday, detectives took a person of interest in for questioning related to the triple murder.
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Images of the murder scene have been circulating on social media and police have urged social media users to delete the images and to refrain from sharing them.
