RESIDENTS from Philippi Browns Farm are in shock after a neighbourhood watch secretary was shot and killed while washing her clothes on Sunday, 31 December.
The incident happened on Tywaka Street near Intsebenziswano High School in Philippi. Residents are shocked as they regarded the deceased, Nobuhle Sopuwa (42) as a "people's person".
Nobuhle was attacked while washing clothes at a tap close to the road on Sunday afternoon.
A witness said she saw Nobuhle talk to a man close to the gate of her yard while holding a basket full of wet clothes.
The witness said she walked past them and went to her house but as soon as she entered her house, she heard gunshots.
“At first, I thought it was the sound of fireworks or something as it was New Year’s Eve. When I went outside, I saw the man who was talking to Nobuhle walk away, with Nobuhle bleeding on the ground,” she said.
Community policing forum (CPF) spokesman in the area, Dumisani Qwabe, said he was called to the scene just after the shooting.
He said people in the area informed him that there were two vehicles, a Toyota Avanza and another vehicle that stopped near Nobuhle’s home. Those from the Avanza called Nobuhle and when she responded, they shot her three times before both cars drove off.
“Killing crime fighters is attacking society at large. Nobuhle contributed a lot to fighting crime in her kasi. We are devastated, but we will make sure we work with the police to ensure that those who killed Nobuhle are brought to book. We want justice for Nobuhle,” said Qwabe.
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Police spokesman Captain Frederick van Wyk said cops responded to a shooting incident at Tywaka Street in Block 8 in Philippi on Sunday.
“According to reports, Philippi SAPS members attended to a murder complaint at a medical facility in Mitchells Plain. Upon arrival at the scene, they were taken to the body of a 42-year-old female with multiple gun wounds on the upper body, who died due to injuries sustained. Circumstances surrounding this shooting are under investigation. The motive and suspects behind this incident are unknown,” said Van Wyk.
The incident happened in the same month in which Gugulethu CPF deputy chairwoman, Lulama Dinginto was shot and killed in her house.
