Local residents were horrified after seeing CCTV footage that went viral, showing a white BMW 1 series, chasing a black Mercedes Benz Coupé, on Barbara Coetzer Street, (near Van Der Wall Street) in Erasmia, in the early morning of this past Monday (August 9 – Women’s Day) at around 8:00am.
The incident took place opposite the Ansaar Security Estate. The CCTV footage then showed three Indian males getting out of their white BMW and pelting the black Mercedes with bricks, in full view of security personnel and passing motorists. A number of gunshots were fired towards the Mercedes, which apparently began as the Coupé was travelling down the road, before it came to a stop, at a pile of bricks outside a housing development. According to a passerby, a woman who was apparently in the Merc, then got into the white BMW, which then drove away. The driver of the Merc was taken out of his car, and thereafter was taken to hospital due to injuries he sustained.
Subsequent to the incident, the Laudium Sun learnt that the driver of the white BMW, was caught by the JMPD shortly thereafter, after skipping a number of red robots. The car was searched and a firearm believed to be used during the shooting incident was found. A link was soon established to the shooting which took place in Erasmia and Suliman Aboo (Chaya) of Erasmia, was arrested and charged for the attempted murder of Khaleel Gani (Golpie). It was later established that the woman in the Merc with Khaleel, was Afshin Rafiq, the wife of Suliman. According to a family friend, the pair have been married for about 20 years and Suliman was with his 18-year-old son and a friend from Durban during the shooting and pelting incident. It is believed that Afshin was a close friend of Khaleel and that she tagged her husband Suliman along, on many occasions, when she socialized with Khaleel and his other friends from Jhb. The Laudium Sun received information that things apparently soured between Afshin and Khaleel, after Afshin apparently did not want to pursue her ‘relationship’ with Khaleel. Allegations are that Khaleel then ‘blackmailed’ Afshin, allegedly threatening her to “tell it all” concerning the extent of their relationship. A family friend of Afshin, who preferred to remain anonymous, alleged that Afshin had apparently paid Khaleel about a R1million and even bought him a car, in order for him to keep his silence concerning their ‘relationship’. According to the friend, Afshin and her husband were trying to resolve the problems with Khaleel, as they sat in his Merc, on that fateful Monday morning. It is alleged that they could not reach a settlement and the pair decided to leave. But, as Suliman got out of the car, Khaleel allegedly drove away, before Afshin could get out of the two-door Merc Coupé. It is then that Suliman met his son and friend outside his house, with the three of them apparently giving chase. The Laudium Sun contacted Afshin for comment, but as her phone was switched off, we left a message for her to call us back. Soon thereafter, we received a call from a private number, a female who preferred not to give her name, who claimed that she was a friend of Afshin, and alleged that Afshin was kidnapped that morning by Khaleel and that her husband, Suliman had rescued her. The Laudium Sun could not get hold of Khaleel, as he was in hospital. However, a person claiming to be a friend of Khaleel, told the Laudium Sun that Khaleel was moved from a private hospital to a state hospital and that he is recovering from bullet wounds sustained on his right arm and near his neck, adding, “There are a lot of lies going around about my friend [Khaleel], concerning the events that led to him being shot, but the truth will soon be revealed”. Flamboyant Attorney, Kaneil Muthray, who represents Suliman, confirmed that Suliman was released on bail of R1000 and is to appear in court again on September 6.
Witnesses
Anton Van Wyk of Barbara Coetzer Street, in Erasmia, told the Laudium Sun, “I was in my house when I heard the noise. It sounded like dynamite being used for breaking rocks. Then, suddenly, I heard gun shots, multiple times, and what appeared to be stones, I think they were hitting the car. I don’t know what caused this incident, but it seems they hated each other and wanted to kill the guy in the black Merc.”
Andre Du Plessis, the security supervisor at Ansaar Estate, said, “As the estate, we are not allowed to comment on the incident, mostly because we only saw what happened after the incident, on our CCTV footage, as it happened in front of the estate.”
Abram Apple, the Security patroller at COPS tactical, said, “I was patrolling on Monday, driving through Van Den Heever Street, toward Barbara Coetzer Street, then I heard gun shots, which were from Barbara Coetzer Street. I rushed up and I saw two cars chasing one another, then the Black Mercedes Benz lost control and hit the wall, as they were hitting his car. I came closer and drew my gun, but I did not point it at them. One of the guys put his gun back. Then one guy told me, ‘please, you got nothing to do with this, this is my wife that is in the car.’ They then continued smashing his car, the lady then came out of the car and got in the White BMW, they pulled the driver of the Merc down, he was bleeding, I only saw one gunshot wound in the shoulder near the neck. Another security guy came and then these guys got into the BMW and left.”
Constable Tumisang Moloto, of the Erasmia SAPS, said, “Police have instituted an investigation into a shooting incident on Monday 09 August 2021. A CCTV footage, which is circulating on various media platforms, shows a man in a black Mercedes Benz being attacked by three men driving a white BMW 1 Series before fleeing the scene. Shortly after the incident was reported to the police, the vehicle fitting the description of the suspects was spotted in the Johannesburg CBD. One suspect was arrested by JHB Metro Police. A firearm believed to have been used in the shooting incident was recovered. The motive behind this incident is still unknown. The victim was taken to a local hospital for further medical treatment. A case of attempted murder has been opened for further police investigation.”
