A prominent Richards Bay procurement executive was viciously gunned down on Monday evening, prompting speculation about a similar case that rocked Meerensee three years ago.
Richards Bay drive-by shooting: Who wanted the procurement executive dead?
In a statement, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) spokesperson Robert Netshiunda revealed that the victim, only identified as a man in his 50s, was found unresponsive inside his bullet-riddled car.
“Information at police disposal at this stage suggests that an unknown number of suspects who were driving in a grey or silver Hyundai opened fire at the victim’s vehicle using rifles before fleeing from the scene. The motive for the killing is unknown at this stage, and a manhunt is underway,” the blanket police statement read.
Details about Monday’s drive-by shooting remain under wraps for now, as investigators peel through forensic evidence in an attempt to piece together the events that led up to the procurement executive’s tragic death.
Coincidentally, Meerensee may recall a similar murder that occurred in the Richards Bay suburb in 2021.
Back then, Nico Swart, a 50-year-old procurement manager at Richards Bay Minerals, was en route to his workplace when his vehicle was ambushed in a meticulously executed drive-by shooting.
The shooting occurred during the bustling rush hour, a time when the roads were typically congested with vehicles and pedestrians.
The attackers, three unidentified men on foot, unleashed a barrage of over 20 high-calibre bullets at Swart’s car, leading to his untimely demise at the scene.
Speculation is rife within the community and among observers that, much like Swart, Monday’s drive-by shooting may be intricately linked to the victim’s role as a prominent procurement executive in Richards Bay, albeit no further comment regarding motive has surfaced from investigators.