Police were summoned to a shooting incident Tuesday (1/9) at approximately 19:00 on Constantia Road. Upon arrival, officers were alerted to the body of a male lying motionless on the driveway.

The victim, identified as Setsumi Jeremiah Motaung, was found with multiple gunshot wounds to the head and was declared deceased at the scene, said Free State police spokesperson Sgt Palesa Thabana.

“According to information, the victim was standing at a fuel pump next to his black Mercedes-Benz C-Class vehicle. He was then allegedly approached by two unknown African males wielding handguns. The two suspects allegedly fired several shots towards the victim before fleeing the scene on foot. The victim was fatally wounded.”

The motive for the murder remains unknown. No arrests have been made, while investigations to trace and identify the possible suspects are underway.

Thabana urged anyone with information that could assist police with the investigation to come forward. Det. Sgt. Katlego Nketsi of the Welkom Serious and Violent Crimes Unit can be contacted on 072 198 0697.

The shooting comes as the latest Free State crime statistics show a decline in reported murders during the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year. Provincial crime statistics released on Tuesday by provincial police commissioner Lt. Gen Thabang Lesia recorded a 16.1% decrease in murders between April and June.

The decrease in murders was accompanied by declines in several robbery-related crimes, including robbery with aggravating circumstances, car hijackings, and robberies at residential and non-residential premises. Collectively, these crimes decreased by 23.3%.

However, the province recorded a significant increase in attempted murder cases during the same period. A total of 678 attempted murder cases were recorded between April and June, compared with 393 during the same period in the previous financial year.

Lesia said the increase requires urgent and focused attention, with police expected to identify the factors contributing to attempted murders, particularly in crime hotspots and among repeat offenders.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi

• Have a news tip to share? Phone or whatsapp the OFM News Hotline 066 487 1427.