Four men reported to be of Pakistani origin have been gunned down in a suspected targeted ambush in South Africa. The fatal shooting has sparked widespread grief and renewed safety concerns among expatriate communities amid anti-immigrant riots across the country.
The violent incident occurred on Saturday evening in Kempton Park, a city located in South Africa’s Gauteng province. According to regional reports, the four victims were local shopkeepers who were traveling in a Honda vehicle through the Sebenza area when the incident took place.
Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi stated that the victims had stopped at a red traffic light on Zuurfontein Road when two unidentified men arrived in a white sedan.
The armed assailants exited their vehicle and opened heavy fire on the stationary car. Although the driver attempted to escape by accelerating away, the vehicle lost control and crashed into a traffic island, leaving all four occupants dead at the scene.
Pakistan South Africa Association President Hayat Khan strongly condemned the attack and criticized social media users for celebrating the deaths, urging authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation. He also advised community members to remain vigilant and cooperate with local policing initiatives.
South African authorities launched an immediate murder investigation, though no arrests had been recorded by Monday. Police officials noted that while social media posts identified the deceased as Pakistani nationals, official confirmation of their exact nationalities officially remains pending.
In a statement issued on Monday, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed “profound grief and sorrow over the killing of four Pakistani nationals” in the incident.
The latest bloodshed highlights ongoing security risks faced by expatriate small business owners in South Africa.
