A Lotus River family has been left devastated and searching for answers after 30-year-old Abdul Aliem Brown was shot dead while cycling home from a friend’s house on Sunday night.
Abdul was travelling along 7th Avenue in Lotus River, not far from his home, when a car pulled up and people inside allegedly opened fire. The shooting happened at about 9pm.
His relatives said he was not robbed and had no known gang affiliation. They described him as a quiet, respectful and kind-hearted man who avoided trouble and was always willing to help those around him.
The family is now demanding justice and answers about why Abdul was targeted.
A relative, who asked not to be named, said the family first received a distressing call from one of Abdul’s friends. The information was unclear, and relatives rushed to the scene to establish whether the person who had been shot was Abdul.
The family’s worst fears were confirmed when they arrived and identified him.
“On the night that he was shot, he was on his way home from a friend. He was alone and riding his bike when people in a car pulled up and began shooting at him; that is what we heard from witnesses who saw what happened,” his aunt said.
“A close friend messaged to say what happened, but the person was not entirely sure if it was really him until we, as family members, arrived at the scene. That is when we realised it was Abdul Aliem.
“He clearly did not deserve what happened to him. He was a very humble, soft-hearted, and respectful person who was always willing to help others. He was a loving person who everyone loved, never causing problems. He was the sweetest person we could ever have.
“There is no other way to describe how much we will miss him and the memories we share, because there are just too many.”
The circumstances of the attack have left the family struggling to understand why Abdul was killed. They said there was no indication that he had been involved in gang activity and stressed that he was not robbed during the incident.
His relatives said the violence was particularly difficult to accept because Abdul was simply making his way home from visiting a friend when the shooting occurred.
The family has also been confronted with another painful reality. The injuries he suffered were so severe that they will not be able to see his face before his burial.
“We want justice to be served because no human being in this entire world deserves such cruelty. It is heartbreaking to know that he was not even involved in gang activity, only to have his life taken away at the age of 30.
“When the janazah begins, our family and his friends will not be able to see his face for the last time. That is how severe the injuries are, and as a family, no words can capture the pain of being denied that final goodbye.”
A janazah is the Islamic funeral prayer and burial service. For Abdul’s loved ones, the traditional farewell will now be marked by the knowledge that they have been denied the final chance to see his face.
The family said Abdul had never been married and had no children, but he had plans for his future and wanted to work so that he could support those closest to him.
“He was never married and had no children. He had big dreams and was planning to look for work to support his family and the women who raised him.”
His aunt said his death had robbed the family of a man who still had much to give. She remembered him as someone whose gentle nature made him loved by those around him.
The family’s grief has been compounded by the lack of answers surrounding the shooting. Relatives want investigators to establish who was inside the vehicle, why Abdul was followed or approached, and what led to the gunmen opening fire.
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Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel FC Van Wyk said: “Grassy Park police registered a murder case for investigation. The motive for this attack forms part of police investigations.”
The case remains under investigation, and police have appealed to anyone who may have witnessed the shooting or noticed a suspicious vehicle in the area at the time to come forward.
Anyone with information about the incident can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
For Abdul’s family, the appeal comes as they prepare to bury a man they say was gentle, helpful and loved by everyone who knew him. They are left mourning his life, remembering the many moments they shared and waiting for information that could explain why he was killed so close to home.