Brothers, friend gunned down in cold-blood

An inconsolable mother of two Newlands sons, who were shot and killed, along with their friend, during a drive-by shooting, on Sunday evening, is calling on the minister of police to intervene and bring about justice for the callous murders of the young men.

In a heart-wrenching plea, Michelle Gradidge called on the national minister of police, Bheki Cele, to intervene after her two sons and their friend fell victim to a fatal drive-by shooting, metres away from their home.

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The devastating incident unfolded on Haddock Avenue in Newlands East on Sunday night, sending shockwaves throughout the community.

The victims, identified as brothers, Veron Gradidge (22), Rylan Gradidge (19), and another Newlands East native, Vinchenzo De Palo, were ambushed while outside a tuck shop by unknown assailants in a brazen attack that has left families shattered and a community on edge. It is reported that two other young men were also injured during the shootout.

“I was ironing my younger son, Rylan’s school uniform when I heard screams coming from the road. When we went to see what happened, we found him lying on the ground gasping for air. We found his brother, Veron, a short distance away. My sons were extremely close and even in death, they journeyed on together,” said a bereaved Gradidge.

The grief-stricken mother spoke passionately about the need for swift and decisive action to apprehend those responsible for the senseless violence. In an emotional statement, she urged the national minister of police to prioritise the case and allocate necessary resources to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“I cannot comprehend why my sons and their friend were targeted in such a horrific manner. They were good, decent young men who shied away from trouble. They were not gangsters, they were innocent people who loved being with their family. Our family is grieving, and I implore the national minister of police to intervene personally. We need answers, and we need justice for the lives lost,” said Gradidge.

Police are investigating the incident, but the grieving mother is calling on higher-level involvement to ensure a thorough and impartial inquiry.

“Newlands is getting worse by the day. We are living in what is fast becoming a war zone. There needs to be a focus on rooting out crime here and police need to find out how the guns are getting into the hands of these criminals who shoot innocent people and tear apart families,” implored Gradidge.

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Community leaders and activists in Newlands East have previously called for a comprehensive review of existing security measures and collaborative efforts between local and national law enforcement agencies.

Speaking about the incident, provincial police spokesperson, Col Robert Netshiunda, said, “Newlands East police are investigating three counts of murder and one of attempted murder following an incident in which four men were allegedly shot by unknown suspects on Sunday, January 28, along Haddock Avenue in Newlands East. The victims sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to hospital where three of them succumbed to their injuries on arrival.”