The body of a 23-year-old man who was shot dead was found on the Bishop Lavis Sport Grounds in Lavis Drive early on Monday morning.
The victim had been shot multiple times, including once in the head, and was found by the caretaker on the tennis courts.
The caretaker said he called the police when he heard the gunfire early in the morning, but nobody came.
When he went to do his first grounds inspection at dawn, he found Steven Esterhuizen’s body.
At the scene, Steven’s mother Yvonne, 61, stood looking at her son’s body from a distance. Neighbours supported the grieving mother and said Steven was from Clyde Court in Bream Way.
According to neighbours, he had been picked up by police.
“The cops were searching the gangsters and loaded Steven in the van. We don’t know if he was even taken to the police station or just dropped along the road.
MOM: Yvonne Esterhuizen, 61
“He did not have drugs or anything on him. We don’t know why he was taken,” the neighbour says.
They believe he was killed by gangsters in the area.
A shocked Yvonne said: “My son was not a gangster. He hung out in the court and went to the shop and cleaned for everyone in the courts.
“He was just always there for people in the court. I want to know what happened to my son.”
Police spokesperson, Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana, says a case of murder has been opened for investigation.
“Circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation with no arrests so far. Bishop Lavis police have no record of the deceased being arrested.”
saafia.february@inl.co.za