Man shot in face
THERE are growing calls for better policing in Isipingo after Vinesh Lewis was killed.
The 56-year-old died on Tuesday after being shot in the face outside his business premises, Akeel’s Transport, in Lotus Park.
An employee, who declined to be named, said Lewis arrived at work to give him instructions on what to do.
He said at around 11.30am Lewis left to go to his home in Orient Hills, which is five minutes from his business.
“He was driving his Mercedes-Benz A Class. Seconds after leaving, I heard a single gunshot. I thought something happened at the scrap yard. I carried on
with my work.”
He said moments later he received a call from Lewis’s family that he had been shot. “I was told that after he was shot he drove himself home and his son then drove him to hospital where he died.
“Vinesh was a good person. He treated us with respect. We are shocked about what has happened.”
Family and friends gathered at his home to pay their respects. His immediate family were unable to comment because they were still at the hospital.
Aidan David, the chairperson of the Isipingo Community Police Forum (CPF), said: “It is unfortunate that an innocent life has been lost once again in the Isipingo area. I think we need to step up policing in our precinct.
“People also need to be more involved in the CPF structure in order to be the eyes and ears for the community and the police. These tragedies are happening far too often in our area. I think Bheki Cele, the Minister of Police, needs to deploy more police officers at the Isipingo police station.
“We need help from the government because our area is riddled with crime. First it was petty crimes on a daily basis, but now it has escalated to serious and violent crimes, which are occurring every week.”
Two weeks ago, Duane Balkrishna was killed when he was shot in the head by hijackers. Balkrishna, 49, was helping his neighbour, Reshma Naidoo, 52, who was being hijacked for her double-cab bakkie.
Police said a case of murder was being investigated.