Thabiso Maphike shot dead outside his shop

South African businessman Thabiso Maphike was shot in January and survived a senseless hit.

Eleven months later, his assailants showered the man with a rain of bullets outside his shop, leaving him dead.

Thabiso Maphike, a vocal community leader and a businessman was shot and killed on Friday, November 08 evening when two assailants opened fire at him while he sat in a car outside his shop with his business partner.

Following his shooting, dozens of Bophelong residents gathered at the scene in disbelief as police and forensics investigated.

From a distance, behind the police barricade, a black Golf 1 with a shuttered passenger window could be seen at the door stop of Maphike’s shop.

Several bullet piercings could be seen on the windscreen and some on the vehicle body as the 52-year-old’s body lay cold on the car seat.

Speaking to Ster, a close friend and business partner to Maphike, explained how a duo surfaced from the dark, before spraying his car with bullets.

“We met earlier to stock up for his shop and later regrouped as we prepared to close the shop. A duo inquired if Maphike’s shop had a swiping facility. They left after buying a beer close by and later returned with guns,” he said.

Rising from the dark, Lenela said all he recall were gunshots while they sat in the car.

“Several gunshots went off, maybe on the third one, that’s when I jumped out of the car and lay on the ground between the shop and the car.”

“As soon as the shots went silent when I checked on Maphike, I realized numerous bullets pierced his body,” he said.

As the community of Bophelong remains in shock, many took to social media and posted messages of support and condolences to Maphike who has always been at the forefront of reclaiming township economy.

At the time of publishing this story, police spokesperson had not commented on the matter.