BUSINESSMAN Harry Makamu (53) from New Forest Village in Mpumalanga was killed in a hail of bullets while sitting in a car with a woman.
The two were inside Harry's blue VW Jetta behind the Thulamahashe Plaza near Bushbuckridge on Saturday, 13 January.
It's alleged that two armed thugs confronted them, demanding money and cellphones. They then fired shots at Harry and when he tried to speed off, his car landed in a trench next to a busy road.
A vendor near the road said: "We saw the woman running on the road calling for help. We ran and opened the driver's door to rescue him, but he was bleeding heavily."
Another vendor said they tried to chase the thugs, but they jumped into an idling silver Toyota Tazz and sped off towards Section C.
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Harry's nephew Respect Kubayi (40) said he had just arrived in New Forest bringing his uncle's trailer for service when he received a call that he had been shot.
"We couldn't believe it seeing my uncle dead next to his car. He had bullet wounds in his upper body. He had just left my place going to the mall and told me to bring his trailer for service," he said.
Harry's sister-in-law Joyce Makamu (64) said: "He was a pillar of strength in the family, as well as a generous person and responsible dad."
Colonel Donald Mdhluli confirmed that police are investigating a murder case following an incident in which a 53-year-old man was fatally shot behind a shopping complex in Thulamahashe near Bushbuckridge.
"The victim was inside a vehicle with another person when they were accosted by two armed suspects who fatally shot the victim," he said.
