Man gunned down in suspected hit

A Port Elizabeth man has been killed in what appears to be the latest hit-style murder.

Sinethemba Payi, 30, was shot dead at his home in Mbilini Road, Kwazakhele, at about 9.30pm on Wednesday.

This brings the number of people killed in alleged hitstyle murders in the Bay to 13 since late January.

While the motive for the murder remains unclear, police have confirmed it was most likely a targeted hit.

Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said three men had knocked on Payi’s front door and yelled for him to open.

“When he opened, he was shot three times by the suspects,” he said.

“His 25-year-old girlfriend found him at the front door and he died at the scene. “The suspects were gone.” Beetge said nothing appeared to have been stolen.

Payi was the complainant in a robbery case in 2018 – where no suspects were identified.

On February 20, Siyabulela Vena, 40, was shot multiple times and his seven-month-old daughter Asesakhe at least twice, while they were in bed in their Soweto-on-Sea home.

Little Asesakhe was lying between Vena and his girlfriend, who was unscathed.

On February 17, Akhona Josah, 26, was shot dead inside his house in Veeplaas.

Three men barged in demanding to talk to Josah.

He was then shot multiple times inside the house before the suspects fled on foot.

The other nine people killed in hit murders in the Bay since January were Vuyani Ndike, 40, Themba Makalima, 25, Sabelo Ngquphe, 30, Baba Ningi, 48, Nkululeko Gcakasi, 44, Pamela Ngamlana, 27, Marina Ntamo, 37, Ludwe Papu, 42, and James Pietersen, 42.