Sex worker dies after being shot

A sex worker allegedly shot by a customer who refused to pay has died from her injuries, making her the second death from the incident in which three sex workers were shot. And a man who claims to have shot the three women has handed himself over to police and is expected to appear in court today.

In the early hours of January 22, a man allegedly shot the three women – aged 27, 32 and 34 from Phakamisa, Mdantsane and Scenery Park – at Tutton Terrace in the Quigney, East London. The man allegedly gave the first woman R50 to have sex. It is not clear if the second woman was paid. The third woman allegedly objected to the payment. The man then allegedly said he would get money from his car but the woman refused to let him leave, fearing he would flee without paying. The first two women joined the argument and the man then allegedly pulled out a gun and fired at them. One woman died on the scene, another was shot in the back with the bullet exiting from her chest while the third was shot in her buttocks. One of the two women admitted to Frere Hospital because of the shooting died Monday morning. Yesterday police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala confirmed her death. On Monday afternoon a man handed himself over to police at Fleet Street, claiming to be the gunman who shot the three. While he cannot be identified until he has made a formal court appearance, Mqala revealed that his age is 47. He will appear today in the East London Magistrate’s Court. lIn a separate case, the police crime prevention unit yesterday intervened in a fight between groups of Ethiopian and Somali men in Albany Street. The officers recovered a firearm from one of the men. It was discovered the firearm had been stolen in 2008. The man will appear in the East London Magistrate’s Court tomorrow for unlawful possession of a firearm. — siyab@dispatch.co.za