The once-peaceful streets of Phoenix, north of Durban, are now stained with the blood of a young couple, brutally gunned down by jealousy thugs in a brazen daylight attack. The senseless act of violence, which unfolded on Friday, 26 July, has left the community reeling in shock and fear, questioning the safety of their once-familiar neighbourhood.
The victims, a 26-year-old woman and her 27-year-old partner, were seated inside their white VW Polo, parked in the parking lot of a housing complex on Clayfield Drive, when their lives were tragically cut short. The assailants, believed to be occupants of a silver-grey VW Jetta, approached the couple with chilling intent, unleashing a barrage of bullets that left the car riddled with holes and the victims fighting for their lives.
The woman, tragically, succumbed to her injuries within the confines of the car, while her partner, despite desperate attempts to escape, succumbed to his wounds a mere 20 metres away. The scene, a stark testament to the cold-blooded nature of the attack, was described by witnesses as a chilling display of violence.
"At the moment, I don't know who these people were. But I heard they were in the parking lot when the shooting occurred," a resident, still visibly shaken by the incident, told Daily Sun. "I heard gunshots and was terrified because we've never had such an incident in our area."
The resident's words reflect the collective sense of unease that has gripped the community. Phoenix, once known for its quiet, suburban charm, now finds itself grappling with the grim reality of violent crime. The brazenness of the attack, carried out in broad daylight, has sent a wave of fear through the community, shattering the illusion of safety that many residents had held dear.
Prem Balram, spokesperson for the Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), confirmed the horrific details of the incident. "On arrival, reaction officers found Phoenix SAPS in attendance. The body of a woman was found in the passenger seat of a white VW Polo, and a man believed to be her husband was located on the pathway approximately 20m away," he stated.
Balram further revealed the chilling details of the attack, stating that the couple was shot multiple times, leaving no doubt about the assailants' intent to inflict maximum harm. "Witnesses reported seeing a silver VW Jetta, registration unknown, fleeing the scene of the murders. Motive for the shooting has not been established," he added.
Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo, KZN police spokeswoman, confirmed the incident, stating that the Phoenix police are investigating two counts of murder. "The incident happened on Clayfield Drive on 26 July," she said.
The investigation into the murders has been launched, with detectives working tirelessly to piece together the events that led to this tragedy. The motive behind the attack remains shrouded in mystery, with speculation ranging from a possible robbery gone wrong to a targeted hit. However, the lack of any clear leads has left the community in a state of anxiety, questioning who could have carried out such a brutal act and why.
