Qaeed Bucks, 19, and Imtiyaaz Bux, 22, were shot dead during a home invasion.
Two brothers were shot dead and their father critically injured after three armed suspects allegedly entered their home in Trichardt, Mpumalanga, early on Friday. Police have launched a manhunt.
On Tuesday, crime expert Yusuf Abramjee called for intensified efforts to combat violent crime and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
Qaeed Bucks, 19, and his brother, Imtiyaaz Bux, 22, were shot dead after three armed suspects allegedly stormed their family home in Schnetler Street, Trichardt, at about 3am on Friday.
Their 52-year-old father was also shot during the attack and remains in a critical condition in hospital, while their mother and two other siblings escaped unharmed.
Abramjee described the shooting as deeply disturbing, and said people should not have to fear for their lives in their own homes.
“Your home is supposed to be your place of safety, but increasingly, criminals are prepared to break into homes, terrorise families and use extreme violence, even shooting innocent people.
“This is not an ordinary crime. We are dealing with increasingly brazen and ruthless criminals who have little regard for human life,” he said.
Abramjee called on police to conduct a thorough investigation and establish whether the suspects had acted on specific intelligence or whether the incident was a random home invasion.
“The police must investigate this incident thoroughly and ensure that those responsible are identified, arrested and brought before the courts. We also need to establish whether the perpetrators were acting on specific intelligence or whether this was a random home invasion.
“There must be greater focus on organised criminal networks, illegal firearms and repeat offenders. We cannot continue to respond to these incidents after lives have been lost,” he said.
Abramjee said South Africans deserved to feel safe in their homes, calling for visible and effective policing, intelligence-driven operations and decisive action against violent criminals.
“Enough is enough. We cannot surrender our homes, our communities and our country to criminals. The fight against violent crime must be intensified,” he said.
According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Sergeant Thulisile Magagula, the suspects allegedly gained entry into the house by forcibly opening a window.
Magagula said the family woke up to find the three suspects inside their home.
“One of the suspects allegedly opened fire, shooting the 52-year-old father and his two sons, aged 19 and 22. The suspects subsequently fled the scene without taking any valuables,” he said.
When police arrived, they found the three male family members inside the house with gunshot wounds.
Emergency medical services were called to the scene, where the 19-year-old was declared dead.
The father and his 22-year-old son were rushed to a medical facility for treatment.
However, Imtiyaaz was certified dead upon arrival, while his father remains in critical condition.
Magagula confirmed that the mother and the two other children who were inside the house during the shooting were not injured.
Police in Trichardt have launched a manhunt for the three suspects, who remain at large.
Cases of double murder, attempted murder and attempted house robbery have been opened, with investigations under way.
Mpumalanga police provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Apaphia Modise said police would work around the clock to ensure the perpetrators were swiftly brought to book.