Tragic end to wedding celebrations

WEDDING celebrations turned tragic for two friends who were gunned down in their vehicle by foreigners in what is believed to be an attempted hijacking.

They had left a friend’s wedding in Fordsburg, Gauteng and were driving to their homes in Benoni when the attackers opened fire. The driver, Muhammed Walely, 27, and Mohammed Karolia, 23, were fatally wounded.

Walely’s cousin, Azhar Loonat, 26, escaped unscathed.

Describing the incident as “ruthless”, Walely’s sister Tabassum said the men had left the wedding around 10pm.

“My brother and Azhar were seated in front and Mohammed was sitting in the passenger seat behind my brother. The wedding had finished and they were returning home.

“According to Azhar the bakkie with a few foreigners came behind them and started firing shots at the vehicle.”

She said when Azhar heard the first shot he slid to the floor.

“Mohammed was shot in the back and my brother was shot twice in the head and subsequently crashed his vehicle into a stop street. Mohammed died on his way to hospital and my brother died at the scene.”

Tabassum said Azhar got out of the vehicle and sought help from local residents.

“He contacted my brother to tell him what had happened.”

She said her brother and Mohammed were buried on Sunday. “Azhar spent most of his free time with them and he is not doing well.

“He watched in horror as his two best friends were killed and the family are seeking counselling for him.”

Gauteng SAPS spokesman Captain Mavela Masondo said: “The suspects in a black Toyota Hilux bakkie opened fire on the vehicle and then fled the scene.”

Masondo appealed to anyone with information about the shooting to come forward.