Two young men were shot dead by unknown gunmen in Timothy Valley during the early hours of Monday.
Jonathan Douse, 30, and Cheslyn Cherry, 26, died at the scene in Sweden Street.
Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said the shooting occurred at about 2am but was only reported to police after sunrise.
“At about 6.40am, Bethelsdorp police responded to a complaint in Sweden Street, Timothy Valley, Bethelsdorp,” she said.
“On arrival, they found the bodies of Cherry and Douse with multiple gunshot wounds.
“Shots were heard at about 2am but the two men were only found this morning by a member of the community.”
When a Herald team arrived, the bodies of Douse and Cherry were still lying at the scene.
A group of residents huddled around.
Douse’s mother, Romia Jullies, 47, said she was still trying to come to terms with what had happened.
“My son was not a gangster,” she said.
“He didn’t deserve to die, it’s my son lying there.”
Jullies admitted that Douse had been a known drug user.
“He used drugs, yes, but he was not involved with gangs or anything like that.
“He was a good man and this is heavy on my heart. No mother should see their son like this.”
Douse’s aunt, Layla, struggled to contain her emotions as she sobbed inconsolably.
Cherry’s sister, Laverne, 34, said she was still in shock.
“No-one expects to receive a call and be told your loved one has been killed,” she said.
“It was a big shock and still is.
“I can only say good things about my brother.
“The police will tell us what happened here, we’re not going to speculate.
“Cheslyn was loved by all and was a family man.”
Janse van Rensburg said the provincial organised crime investigation unit’s detectives were investigating.
“Two cases of murder are under investigation.”
HeraldLIVE
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