Gang warfare claims Reiger Park leader’s life

Johannesburg - The dirt was freshly turned to cover the blood. A pall of red-brown dust covered the spot where Desmond Tombeen was murdered in Reiger Park, Boksburg.

The number of the community’s gang-related killings grew by another point around 4pm on Wednesday when Tombeen, a 56-year-old affiliated with the Dogans gang, was shot about eight times.

Tombeen was on his way to visit his close friend Martin Adams, another Dogan, when a silver Mini Cooper pulled up and three men opened fire.

As Tombeen bled on the ground and tried to move, one of the shooters stepped out of the car and executed him, Gauteng police spokeswoman Lieutenant-Colonel Katlego Mogale said on Thursday.

“The shock hasn’t settled yet,” Adams said of the man he described as closer than a brother. “I’m expecting him to walk in.”

Adams’s own brother was slain in gang warfare last year.

In April, another Dogan was shot in a drive-by killing that was an apparent attempt to settle a grudge.

Tensions soared last year when alleged leaders of the rival Dogans and Sour Boyz were murdered on consecutive days.

A massive show of police force has descended on the area to keep the peace, but community leaders said the police left the area without notice as soon as things began to quieten down.

Although gang violence is common in Reiger Park, Tombeen’s death is proving to be especially hard to take.

Tombeen, who is the father of an estimated 15 children around the country, has been a fixture in the community for many years.

An educated man, he received his law degree from Unisa, but was not able to be admitted as an attorney because of his criminal record.

Regardless, Tombeen’s friends and family said he was quick to give legal advice and helped many people in the community deal with things such as filing unemployment claims.

“The people he has communicated with have lost not just a friend but an adviser,” Adams said.

As the shootings can often be linked to revenge in answer to prior attacks, the question arises of what will happen next.

Adams would not speak to the issue except to say: “(Peace) will be a good thing, but other people are hurt,” describing others who knew Tombeen.

The police were not able to comment on any preventive measures.

“They mustn’t take revenge,” one of Tombeen’s relatives said. “Leave it in God’s hands.”

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The Star