A Manenberg family has been left devastated after a 41-year-old handyman was shot in the head while walking to deliver paint on Sunday evening.
The victim, known only as Siyabulela, was travelling through Morie Close at about 6.10pm when gunfire broke out. He was reportedly on his way to sell paint for a person he regularly worked for when he was attacked.
The shooting has once again left residents in the troubled Cape Flats community on edge, with reports of gunfire coming from different parts of the area. Crime groups have also urged residents to remain alert as police investigate the killing.
Siyabulela was found with a gunshot wound to his head after Manenberg police responded to a complaint of a shooting. Medical personnel declared him dead at the scene.
Provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that a murder case had been opened. No arrests had been made at the time of the report, and the suspect or suspects were believed to have fled the area.
“The circumstances surrounding a shooting incident in Morie Close, Manenberg, on Sunday evening, 16 August 2026, at about 6.10pm, where a 41-year-old male was shot and fatally wounded are under investigation,” said Twigg.
“Manenberg police responded to a complaint of a shooting and upon arrival on the scene, they found the victim with a gunshot wound to his head. The victim was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel. The suspect/s fled the scene and are yet to be arrested.
“Manenberg detectives are investigating a murder case.”
Family Struggles To Understand His Death
A family member close to Siyabulela said his relatives were struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss. The family member asked not to be identified because of fears for their safety.
The relative described Siyabulela as an innocent man who worked hard to support his family. He was known in the community as a handyman and took on odd jobs whenever he could find work.
“Siyabulela was an innocent man who did odd jobs for people to provide for his family and he was a handyman in the community. He was not involved in any wrongdoing or any gangsterism to get his death like this.
“All I know is that he was on his way to sell paint for someone he normally works for and would do odd jobs for.
“I was coming from work when I heard the shocking news. I could not believe it because I cannot think of what he could have done to die like this, but maybe he was just at the wrong place at the wrong time.
“He was not married and did not have any children; everything he did was to provide for his family. This is a tragic time for our family because he was a hardworking man who would take on any job to provide for his family and take care of his mother.”
The family’s account paints a picture of a man whose daily life revolved around finding work and helping his relatives. He was not known to be involved in criminal activity, according to the family member, and had been going about his business when he was killed.
The family has not been told why Siyabulela was targeted. Police have not announced a motive, and no arrests have been made to indicate who may have been responsible.
No Motive Confirmed
The shooting happened in an area where residents have regularly raised concerns about gun violence. However, police have not confirmed that Siyabulela’s murder was gang-related, and investigators have not publicly linked the handyman to any criminal group.
The circumstances leading up to the shooting remain under investigation. Detectives will have to establish where the gunmen came from, whether Siyabulela was followed and whether anyone witnessed the attack.
Investigators may also examine nearby cameras, speak to residents and gather information about gunfire heard in the area around the time of the murder. Any information that can help identify the suspect or suspects could be important in the case.
A previous shooting in Manenberg earlier this year also left one person dead, several others injured and a police officer wounded. Police described that incident as gang-related and increased their presence in the area. The earlier case shows the serious danger faced by residents, but it does not establish a motive in Siyabulela’s killing.
For the family, the focus remains on the loss of a hardworking relative who was trying to earn money and support his mother. His death has left them asking why a man who was simply walking to deliver paint ended up becoming the victim of a deadly shooting.
Police Appeal For Information
Manenberg detectives are appealing to anyone who may have information about the shooting to come forward. Residents who heard gunshots, saw suspicious people or vehicles in Morie Close, or witnessed Siyabulela’s movements before the attack may be able to assist the investigation.
Information can be given to Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Members of the public can also use the MySAPS mobile application to provide information anonymously.
Police have not released details about the firearm used in the killing or the number of suspects involved. They have also not confirmed whether the victim knew the attacker or whether the shooting was a random attack.
The family’s fears have made it difficult for relatives to speak publicly, but they hope that someone in the community will provide information that leads detectives to the person responsible.
As the investigation continues, Siyabulela’s family is left to mourn a man they say spent his life working, helping others and providing for the people closest to him. His final journey to deliver paint ended in a brutal act of violence, and the questions surrounding his killing remain unanswered.
Until an arrest is made, the family will have no clear explanation for why Siyabulela was shot and killed. Police are now relying on the community to help bring the investigation closer to an answer and to ensure that his death is not forgotten.
