Drive-by shooting: man shot 8 times and bodyguard killed

AN ISIPINGO couple running a legitimate scrap-dealing business said they feared for their lives following ongoing police raids, violence and harassment, allegedly orchestrated by business rivals.

Jacqueline Govender, 30, said things came to a head in November last year when her brother-in-law was shot and injured and their bodyguard was killed in a drive-by shooting in Lotus Park.

She said she believed it was linked to threats they received to close their business. 

Govender said she and her husband, Kreolin Govender, 33, had opened their scrap-dealing business in April 2024 and a few months later, they received the first threat to “shut-down or face the consequences”.

“We started our business from scratch. We ensured that we followed all the regulations such as acquiring a licence. Our clients are elderly women, mainly from the Eastern Cape. There are no walk-ins. Our business was thriving, and this we believe has angered other business owners.” 

Govender said in November 2024, they received their first threat. 

“It was a Wednesday evening, when my husband received a call from an unknown number. They asked to speak to my father-in-law. They then asked my husband who he was and the person said to him, ‘We are giving you till Friday; we want the place closed down’. We were quite taken aback by this, and I was very anxious and kept thinking what was going to happen,” she said.

Govender said two days later, officers from the Public Order Policing (POP) stormed their scrapyard. 

“They came in like you see on the news, when there is a drug raid. They were wearing balaclavas and carrying high-calibre firearms. Our customers and workers were forced onto the ground. 

“At the time, my father had come to visit me, and was in my office when they stormed in. They asked if he was the owner, and he said no. They took our cellphones and started going through everything in the office, as if they were looking for something,”  she said. 

Govender said they asked for her husband by name. 

“At that time, one of the officers was on a call, and I heard him say, ‘We are here at the place, I will call you back just now’. I asked them for my cellphone so I could call my husband. He had gone to get money from the ATM to pay our customers. He told me that he was actually outside, and that someone had called him to tell him what was going on. He said that person also informed him that there was a group of businessmen standing nearby, watching what was happening,” she added.

Govender said her husband was arrested. 

“He was arrested for ‘not having a business licence’, yet it was displayed on our wall. At the police station he was released on R1000  bail. But, before they released him, they wanted a bribe of R20 000.  That case was eventually thrown out of court as we produced our licence. 

“However, when we viewed the CCTV footage that same evening, the businessmen, who were accompanied by police to our premises, removed customers that were waiting for us. We have an area where customers who arrive in the evening are able to sleep until the next morning. After seeing this, and who the business people were, we knew the raid was an attempt to shut down our business," she said.

Govender said they closed the business for about a month, but decided to reopen, and employed the services of two bodyguards. 

“We were living in fear, and even stayed in a hotel for a month, as there were people watching our house. We would see them driving past, and taking pictures,” she said.

Govender claimed over the next few months, the raids and harassment continued. 

“One evening POP officers arrived again at the business premises, and asked for my husband. He was taken to a dark area on the road, where there are no cameras, and was handcuffed and beaten by the officers. When he started screaming, they released him. They told him to close the business. When he asked why he should as it was a legitimate business,  one of the officers responded, ‘We will be back’,” she said.  

Govender said in November, her brother-in-law, and one of their bodyguards were ambushed while collecting food from their home on November 13, 2025. 

“My mother prepares meals for the customers, it is something we always do. My brother-in-law was leaning into the backseat of the bakkie packing the food,  while the bodyguard stood by the bin. My helper was standing beside my brother-in-law. 

“From what our helper told us, a car drove up the road, and then did a U-turn, and as it came back down, the car stopped,  the suspects opened the windows and began firing at them. Our bodyguard was shot 14 times, and died at the scene. My brother-in-law was shot eight times. He was shot in his legs, stomach and back. Our helper managed to escape unharmed. 

“My nine-year-old son, who was on study leave at the time, called me and all I could hear was screaming in the background. While driving there, my son called again, and said our bodyguard was dead and my brother-in-law was shot. 

“We rushed my brother-in-law to the hospital, even though he was still conscious, he was in critical condition. He was put on a ventilator for about five days, and had to receive blood. It is a miracle he is alive. But he now has a stoma bag,” she said. 

Govender said she believed her husband was the target. 

“My husband and his brother look identical as they are the same height, built, and even have the same hairstyle. The bodyguard was also always with my husband. That day he went to help my brother-in-law. They must have thought it was my husband.” 

Govender said while there was silence for now, they were still fearful. 

She said they have opened cases of theft, bribery, corruption and assault with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) for investigation. 

The Ipid said it was investigating. The SAPS did not respond at the time of publication. 

THE POST