Bophelong community leader and businessman shot dead

BOPHELONG – He was shot in January and survived the senseless blow.

Eleven months later, attackers shot the man in front of his shop and left him dead.

Vocal ensemble leader and businessman Thabiso Maphike was shot dead when two attackers opened fire on him while he and his business partner were sitting in a car in front of his shop on the evening of Friday, November 8.

Following his shooting, dozens of Bophelong residents gathered at the scene in disbelief as police and forensic examiners carried out investigations.

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

As the 52-year-old man’s body lay cold in his car seat, numerous bullet holes could be seen on the windshield and some on the vehicle body.

To talk StereMaphike’s close friend and business partner told how he emerged from the darkness before a duo sprayed his car with bullets.

“We met earlier to stock up for his shop and then reconvened as he was preparing to close the shop. The duo asked if Maphike’s shop had a swipe feature. They left after buying a beer nearby and later returned with guns,” he said.

Rising from the darkness, Lenela said the only thing she remembered sitting in the car was gunshots.

“There were several gunshots, maybe a third, then I jumped out of the car and lay on the ground between the shop and the car. “When I checked on Maphike as soon as the shots were cut, I noticed that many bullets had hit his body,” he said.

While the Bophelong community remains in shock, many people have taken to social media to post messages of support and condolences to Maphike, who has always been at the forefront of improving the town’s economy.

A police spokesman had not commented on the matter at the time this story was published.

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