THE family of a man who was gunned down by thugs said the thugs should have just taken his cellphones and not his life.
Sakhile Mhlongo died on Sunday, 13 March after being shot by three unknown men on his way to work.
He was walking when the men came to him, demanding his cellphones.
They shot him after he resisted and took his phones before fleeing the scene.
The 45-year-old was originally from Maphumulo, northern KZN, but was living in Richmond Farm near KwaMashu, north of Durban, at the time of his death.
A witness said she heard the suspects shouting at Sakhile to hand over his phones.
“I then watched from my house as they tried to take the phones from his pockets. He fought with them and one of them took out a gun and shot him. They took his phones while he was lying on the ground,” she said.
The witness said the murder happened early in the morning and there weren’t many people around.
“After some time I went to see if he was still alive and tried to get help,” she said.
“Other neighbours also came out but we discovered he was already dead.”
Sakhile’s sister, Delisile Biyela, (59) said when she heard her brother had been shot, she rushed to the scene.
“I was praying that I would find him alive but when I got there, he was dead,” she said.
“He worked at a butchery in Umbilo and was on his way to catch a bus when he got killed.
“These thugs are heartless and mean. They should have just taken his phones and let him live.”
KZN police spokeswoman Lieutenant-Colonel Nqobile Gwala confirmed the incident. She said a murder case was opened.
