A ladies night out ended horrifically when a University of Fort Hare business graduate was shot dead outside popular Buccaneer’s Sports Pub and Grill on East London’s beachfront.
Ludwe Zembe, 25, was shot five times. One shot, believed to be the last, was fired upwards from under his chin. His friend was shot in the buttocks and a young woman stabbed.
Police said Zembe, an unemployed 2013 University of Fort Hare BCom (information systems) graduate was shot five times including in the head and chest by a patron who fled the scene.
East London police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala said Zembe, Winch and Zembe’s younger brother, Ntlanganiso, 21, were in the company of three women.
Mqala said Zembe and friends met the three women buying electricity at a Southernwood garage on Thursday evening and offered them a ride. “When they were inside the car the male occupants convinced the women to go partying and they ended up at Buccaneers.
“While still enjoying themselves, one of the women was summoned to a table occupied by other males but she refused saying she was already taken,” Mqala said.
The group landed up partying for about five hours in Buccaneers and were headed back to their vehicle when they spotted the man who had earlier inside the pub tried to make amorous advances.
Zembe’s group approached them and a brawl broke out with knives drawn by the other group.
The jilted patron drew a gun and fired six shots, emptying the chambers.
Ludwe’s brother, Ntlanganiso said: “Ludwe fell to ground. He walked over to where he was lying and fired another shot under his chin into his head.
“The shooter then pointed the gun to my head and asked me what am I going to do. I just lifted my arms and begged him not to shoot me.”
Zembe’s devastated father, Vusumzi Zembe, said the family was robbed of their “only hope of a better life”.
“I have five sons and Ludwe was the first and the only one in the family who was a graduate,” he said.
Vusumzi was speaking to Saturday Dispatch from their two-roomed shack in Duncan Village where about 15 family and friends had gathered to console the parents.
Mqala said that when the pub closed, Zembe and friends made their way out and came across a man who had earlier summoned one of the women to his table.
“A confrontation ensued and the confronted man withdrew a firearm and fired shots,” Mqala said.
She said Zembe was hit and died instantly on the scene.
She said during the scuffle one of the woman was stabbed several times and later hospitalised.
Buccaneers owner Harold Goddard said the shooting occurred after they had closed.
“We closed early, around 1am, because there weren’t many people in here. At the time of the shooting our staff were all inside locking up,” Goddard said.
He described the incident as “isolated”.
“We are busy assisting the police with information and looking at our CCTV footage to assist in the investigation,” Goddard said.
Thursday is a popular night at Buccaneers with drinks half price between 8pm and midnight.
Mqala asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact the investigating officer Sergeant Philile Solwandle on (043)743-4400.
Zembe will be buried on April 25, one day before his 25th birthday.
Graduate gunned down in pub brawl
Ludwe Zembe, 25, was shot five times. One shot, believed to be the last, was fired upwards from under his chin. His friend was shot in the buttocks and a young woman stabbed.
Police said Zembe, an unemployed 2013 University of Fort Hare BCom (information systems) graduate was shot five times including in the head and chest by a patron who fled the scene.
East London police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala said Zembe, Winch and Zembe’s younger brother, Ntlanganiso, 21, were in the company of three women.
Mqala said Zembe and friends met the three women buying electricity at a Southernwood garage on Thursday evening and offered them a ride. “When they were inside the car the male occupants convinced the women to go partying and they ended up at Buccaneers.
“While still enjoying themselves, one of the women was summoned to a table occupied by other males but she refused saying she was already taken,” Mqala said.
The group landed up partying for about five hours in Buccaneers and were headed back to their vehicle when they spotted the man who had earlier inside the pub tried to make amorous advances.
Zembe’s group approached them and a brawl broke out with knives drawn by the other group.
The jilted patron drew a gun and fired six shots, emptying the chambers.
Ludwe’s brother, Ntlanganiso said: “Ludwe fell to ground. He walked over to where he was lying and fired another shot under his chin into his head.
“The shooter then pointed the gun to my head and asked me what am I going to do. I just lifted my arms and begged him not to shoot me.”
Zembe’s devastated father, Vusumzi Zembe, said the family was robbed of their “only hope of a better life”.
“I have five sons and Ludwe was the first and the only one in the family who was a graduate,” he said.
Vusumzi was speaking to Saturday Dispatch from their two-roomed shack in Duncan Village where about 15 family and friends had gathered to console the parents.
Mqala said that when the pub closed, Zembe and friends made their way out and came across a man who had earlier summoned one of the women to his table.
“A confrontation ensued and the confronted man withdrew a firearm and fired shots,” Mqala said.
She said Zembe was hit and died instantly on the scene.
She said during the scuffle one of the woman was stabbed several times and later hospitalised.
Buccaneers owner Harold Goddard said the shooting occurred after they had closed.
“We closed early, around 1am, because there weren’t many people in here. At the time of the shooting our staff were all inside locking up,” Goddard said.
He described the incident as “isolated”.
“We are busy assisting the police with information and looking at our CCTV footage to assist in the investigation,” Goddard said.
Thursday is a popular night at Buccaneers with drinks half price between 8pm and midnight.
Mqala asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact the investigating officer Sergeant Philile Solwandle on (043)743-4400.
Zembe will be buried on April 25, one day before his 25th birthday.
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