Story By: Lisa-Maria Goertz, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Central European News

A young South African dad has been shot 18 times by drive-by shooters as he walked to the shop and died shortly afterwards in his wife’s arms.

The 24-year-old victim, Baaqir Joshua, died in the arms of his wife shortly afterwards in the legislative capital of South-Africa, Cape Town.

The wife of the victim, 20-year-old Firdouwz, told local media how they had been in bed and her husband had just made them dinner. Their nine-month-old son Ubaid was at her mother’s house.

“He kept telling me he is missing his son and wanted to hold him for a few minutes and I told him he was being ridiculous because Ubaid just went the night before to my mommy in Mitchells Plain.

“He said OK and went to the shop.”

Minutes later Firdouwz describes how she heard a ring of gunfire and just knew that it was her husband.

She describes running outside and heard her cousin scream his name, then she can over to his body. She said: “He gave his last breath in my arms and it was hard.”

The young bereaved wife says she has no idea why anybody would shoot her husband, who she says was a family man and not a gangster.

According to local media, the shooters quickly drove off and witnesses were able to make out the model of the car as it was dark.

Baaqir reportedly worked for an upholstery business, but according to his wife had been home during the lockdown as there was no work.

She told local media: “He was everything to me and Ubaid and now I will have to raise our son on my own.

“They shot him in his face and for me to see him like that, it was so heartbreaking.”

Firdouwz says she does not want revenge, just an explanation as to why they would take away the father of her child.

According to police spokesperson, Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana, they are investigating the case but have not yet made any arrests.

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