An anxious father, rushing to hospital to be with his pregnant wife, was killed by an armed robber minutes before the birth of his sixth child.
Adam Addi Wahab, a 40-year-old Somali businessman, locked up his shop in NU3 in Mdantsane on Tuesday night and jumped into the driver’s seat of his Isuzu bakkie when an unidentified gunman walked up behind him and opened fire.
His brother, 26-year-old Abshir Abdullahi, was about to get into the passenger seat when he heard the shots and retreated.
Three shots hit Wahab in the chest. Abdullahi escaped unscathed. The shooter fled the scene empty-handed.
Wahab is the second Somali national to be killed in Buffalo City Metro (BCM) within 24 hours.
A 21-year-old shopkeeper, Ali Abdi Abdi, was stabbed during a robbery by five men at his shop in Kwelerha on Monday night.
The assailants fled with R11000, groceries and airtime valued at R6000.
Police said the Tuesday shooting in NU3 occurred at 7.30pm. At the time, Wahab’s wife was in labour at Frere Hospital.
Abdullahi, speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, said he was walking to the bakkie when he heard the shots being fired.
“After shooting my brother, the shooter came to my side and opened two shots towards me but both missed, only making holes on my jacket and trousers.
“I ducked while he was still loading the gun and hid in the dark corner for five minutes,” Abdullahi said.
He said he emerged from the dark and headed towards where his brother lay bleeding, but the gunman appeared from the back of the van and started shooting at him again.
“I ran away. Community members who heard the gunshots came to my rescue when they screamed, causing the shooter to flee.”
Abdullahi said he went back to his brother and tried feeling for his pulse but he was already dead.
The two left East London on Tuesday afternoon to Mdantsane to deliver stock at Wahab’s tuck shop.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Nkosikho Mzuku said Wahab was pronounced dead on arrival at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in Mdantsane.
Mzuku said when police arrived at the scene, they searched for the gunman suspected to have fled on foot but could not find him.
“A case of murder has been opened for investigation and no suspect has been arrested as yet,” Mzuku said.
Wahab’s cousin Mohamed Omar said he rushed to the scene after hearing news of the shooting.
Omar spoke to the Dispatch on the side of Wahab’s grave at the East London Muslim Cemetery where the family buried him yesterday. “I picked up eight shell casings at the scene.”
He said Wahab arrived in South Africa looking for better opportunities 15 years ago.
“His wife gave birth on Tuesday night and we only informed her of his murder in the morning.”
Police said yesterday they were still on the lookout for the suspects in both murders.
Mdantsane police appealed to the public or anyone with the information that can lead to the identification and arrest of the suspect wanted in connection with the Wahab’s killing to contact the investigating officer, Constable Bulelani Magqazolo on (043)708-7000 or 071-709-2735.
All information will be treated as confidential. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Man killed while wife in labour
Adam Addi Wahab, a 40-year-old Somali businessman, locked up his shop in NU3 in Mdantsane on Tuesday night and jumped into the driver’s seat of his Isuzu bakkie when an unidentified gunman walked up behind him and opened fire.
His brother, 26-year-old Abshir Abdullahi, was about to get into the passenger seat when he heard the shots and retreated.
Three shots hit Wahab in the chest. Abdullahi escaped unscathed. The shooter fled the scene empty-handed.
Wahab is the second Somali national to be killed in Buffalo City Metro (BCM) within 24 hours.
A 21-year-old shopkeeper, Ali Abdi Abdi, was stabbed during a robbery by five men at his shop in Kwelerha on Monday night.
The assailants fled with R11000, groceries and airtime valued at R6000.
Police said the Tuesday shooting in NU3 occurred at 7.30pm. At the time, Wahab’s wife was in labour at Frere Hospital.
Abdullahi, speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, said he was walking to the bakkie when he heard the shots being fired.
“After shooting my brother, the shooter came to my side and opened two shots towards me but both missed, only making holes on my jacket and trousers.
“I ducked while he was still loading the gun and hid in the dark corner for five minutes,” Abdullahi said.
He said he emerged from the dark and headed towards where his brother lay bleeding, but the gunman appeared from the back of the van and started shooting at him again.
“I ran away. Community members who heard the gunshots came to my rescue when they screamed, causing the shooter to flee.”
Abdullahi said he went back to his brother and tried feeling for his pulse but he was already dead.
The two left East London on Tuesday afternoon to Mdantsane to deliver stock at Wahab’s tuck shop.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Nkosikho Mzuku said Wahab was pronounced dead on arrival at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in Mdantsane.
Mzuku said when police arrived at the scene, they searched for the gunman suspected to have fled on foot but could not find him.
“A case of murder has been opened for investigation and no suspect has been arrested as yet,” Mzuku said.
Wahab’s cousin Mohamed Omar said he rushed to the scene after hearing news of the shooting.
Omar spoke to the Dispatch on the side of Wahab’s grave at the East London Muslim Cemetery where the family buried him yesterday. “I picked up eight shell casings at the scene.”
He said Wahab arrived in South Africa looking for better opportunities 15 years ago.
“His wife gave birth on Tuesday night and we only informed her of his murder in the morning.”
Police said yesterday they were still on the lookout for the suspects in both murders.
Mdantsane police appealed to the public or anyone with the information that can lead to the identification and arrest of the suspect wanted in connection with the Wahab’s killing to contact the investigating officer, Constable Bulelani Magqazolo on (043)708-7000 or 071-709-2735.
All information will be treated as confidential. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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