Man left dead in mystery shooting

Waiting ‘jobseeker’ opens fire and flees

POLICE are investigating the killing of a father of two who was shot dead outside his workplace in Mthatha yesterday.

He was slain at Vuyani Liquor wholesalers in Southernwood.

The Daily Dispatch understands that the victim, Chris Kapsalis, had managed the business.

He had been driving into the premises yesterday morning when accosted by a man sitting outside the yard, who had allegedly pretended to be a job seeker.

But when Kapsalis pulled up he drew a gun, opened fire on the car and fled to a waiting vehicle.

Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said several shots had been fired at the vehicle and Kapsalis was shot in his torso. He was declared dead on the scene.

“He was shot dead by an unknown man who was waiting outside the premises pretending to be looking for a job. He shot the man and ran to a getaway car, which was parked nearby. Police have not made any arrests yet,” said Fatyela. The motive was not known. The Daily Dispatch visited the warehouse yesterday. There were no customers. Security guards stood at the gate turning people away.

The security guard allowed the Dispatch team to enter but they were told to leave by a woman who declined to identify herself. She said she would call the company’s head office in Port Elizabeth and later said she had been instructed not to respond as it was a police matter.

The company’s head office in Port Elizabeth was unable to provide information yesterday but a staff member said the directors may speak to the media today.

Kapsalis’ close friend Allister Antonakas yesterday said the father of two boys, aged nine and 13, “wouldn’t hurt a fly”.

Antonakas was informed minutes after the incident that his friend of many years had been shot dead.

When the Dispatch phoned him yesterday, he was with the grieving family preparing to tell the boys.

“Chris was a very good friend. You can’t get better than Chris. His family is in Greece but his wife’s family is here,” said Antonakas.

O R Tambo business chamber chairman Vuyisile Ntlabathi said crime was a worry and it affected business people in Mthatha.

“We condemn this killing. Ultimately it affects even the employment of people in Mthatha because families may decide to close businesses,” said Ntlabathi.

The shooting in Mthatha yesterday comes just days after an alleged assassination attempt on a senior politician in the O R Tambo district.

Six days before Kapsalis’ murder, Mhlontlo municipality council speaker and O R Tambo ANC chair Xolile Nkompela’s car came under fire.

Zukile Nyontso, a member of his security detail, was killed in a hail of bullets in what was believed to have been a hit on Nkompela. —