News of yet another cold-blooded and senseless murder and attempted murder of two of the town’s well-known businessmen sent shock waves through the whole of the Louis Trichardt community on Wednesday afternoon. It followed another murder on the Rondebosch smallholding less than 12 hours before.

Messrs Jogesh Ghelani and his father, Babu Ghelani, were gunned down at their family shop in Eltivillas, Khoja’s Modern Store, at around 12:30 during a daring armed robbery. Tragically, Jogesh died at the scene while his father was rushed to the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital to be treated for a gunshot wound to the leg. A friend of the family later said that he was to be transferred to the Private Hospital in Polokwane later that day.

The Ghelani-family is one of the pioneering Indian business families of the Soutpansberg, their history dating back many decades. Khoja’s Modern Stores is by far also one of the oldest businesses in town.

At the time of going to press, details about the armed robbery were still extremely sketchy. No indication could be given about the number of armed robbers and what prompted the attackers to cold-bloodedly shoot the two businessmen. Unconfirmed reports also stated that employees at the shop managed to overpower one of the attackers. Local police spokesperson Capt Ndwamato Vele could not confirm this, but did say that road blocks were set up around the area to try and apprehend the murderers.

The murder and attempted murder of the two members of the Ghelani-family was the second violent crime to shock the town of Louis Trichardt within 12 hours.

A resident of the Rondebosch smallholdings just outside of Louis Trichardt was stabbed four times at his home at around 02:00 the same morning.

According to Capt Vele, the victim was asleep in bed with his wife when two unknown men forced open the door of their home. They then proceeded to attack the man and his wife with a panga and knife.

The man, said to be in his 40’s, was stabbed four times and sustained wounds to his forehead, chest, shoulder and knee. He managed to escape his attackers’ brutal onslaught by fleeing from his house, but later collapsed in the middle of the N1 to Polokwane. The wife sustained a cut wound to the hand. An undisclosed amount of money was stolen during the attack.

At the time of going to press, the deceased’s name could not be published as his next of kin had yet to be contacted. The police investigation continues.