Witness: Jaden was at wrong place at wrong time

JADEN Breda walked out of his house in Nyanga, Cape Town, on Wednesday, 21 February to go buy bread, airtime and Grandpa for his mkhulu as he was not feeling well. 

The next thing, his family heard gunshots in the street and people screaming Jayden’s name.

“I heard people call Jaden’s grandfather, 'it’s Jaden, it's Jaden'. I was shocked because he was at my house a moment earlier,” said Jaden’s aunt, Devona Breda (35).

When the family rushed to the scene, the 18-year-old was still alive, so they took him to KTC Hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival. The Breda family is hurt that Jaden died in the streets.

Jaden Breda died on his way from a spaza shop. Photo by Lulekwa Mbadamane

According to witness gogo Novuyo Yase (61), Jaden was at the wrong place at the wrong time. She said the gunmen fired shots as soon as Jaden walked away from a nearby spaza shop on his way home.

“He was walking home with bread and other things in his hands. These men were using massive guns. I don’t know why they didn’t wait for him to pass before they opened fire at the house they were targeting,” gogo Novuyo said.

Residents said Jaden was never in the streets and didn’t have friends ekasi.

“His grandfather was his friend. You'd see them go to church together and if not, they'd be in front of the house playing soccer. You'd never see Jaden in the street. It's painful for many of us because we know he was a great kid who caused no trouble,” said another resident, Babalwa Mfobo (41).

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Jaden’s grandfather and mother couldn't speak as they were in too much pain. All Jaden’s mother, Delicia (39) could say was that her son was going to study chemical engineering at Damelin.

Western Cape police spokesman Colonel Andre Traut said the matter is under investigation.

“Two women aged 53 and 43 were shot and killed, while an 18-year-old man was caught in the crossfire and succumbed to death. We have reason to believe the two women were targeted by the suspects and that the man was a bystander. The motive for the triple murders forms part of our investigation. No one has been arrested yet,” said Traut.