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Three unknown assailants arrived at the doorstep of Joseph Bhula, better known as Rasta from Rasta's Shop in Zwelihle in the early hours of Thursday morning. Their unwelcome visit resulted in the death of his six-year-old daughter, Zinande.

The family were fast asleep when they heard someone knock on their front door.

Rasta says he went to the glass panel door and came face to face with three men who requested to buy Craven A cigarettes. &3147We told them we do not open at this time of the night as the police asked us not to trade late at night.” The men asked him to pass the cigarettes underneath the door. Again he refused and they then spoke amongst themselves and continued in trying to persuade Bhula to open up the store for them. He still refused and then heard a shot.

“At first I thought they had thrown a stone through the glass panel in the door, but realised it was a gunshot.” He ran through to the shop and shouted to his partner Bongiswa, to move and get out. He also heard little Zinande shouting, “tata, tata” (father, father).

The gunman left, but returned and shouted at Rasta that he was going to kill him. A total of six shots were fired, one hitting Rasta in his right shoulder.

Wounded, he went down Loyiso Street looking for the attacker but feared for his life and went to hide.

Bongiswa had alerted the police in the meantime and Rasta saw a police vehicle on his way back and told the police officer to look for the assailant in Loyiso Street as he anticipated his moves.

The police chased the assailant but did not manage to apprehend him and when Rasta asked why, the officer replied that he did not have a gun. A Zwelihle resident informed Rasta of the whereabouts of the one suspect and his three brothers went to apprehend him.

The suspect admitted guilt to Rasta's brothers and told them where the gun was hidden. The police arrested the suspect.

Almost 30 minutes had passed since the first shot was fired - when Rasta returned to his shop, he called Bongiswa but she was still at the police station reporting the shooting.

To his horror he realised that his two daughters, the six-year-old Zinande and one-year-old Zukhanye were still lying on the bed. When he reached out to touch them, he felt the bloodstains.

“I started crying and called the police, who were still outside.”

He pulled Zinande from the bed and blood was pouring from a wound in her head. The police immediately called the ambulance who arrived on the scene at approximately 03:00 and transported the little girl to the provincial hospital.

Dr Natasha Blankenberg was on duty and saw Zinande at 03:50 on Thursday morning. Due to the severity of the injury she was transferred to the Tygerberg hospital where she passed away on Thursday afternoon.

Supt Gavin Brink told the Hermanus Times there is more than one suspect. Two are in police custody and one of the suspects appeared in court on Monday but the case was remanded. The other suspect was due to appear in court on Thursday. A third suspect was arrested in Lady Frere in the Transkei.

Members of the public who wish to assist the family with donations toward funeral arrangements can deposit money into account holder Gwanini Bhula, Nedbank Account No: 2345031123, branch code: 134512, type: Nedbank Transactor Account.

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