A CHATSWORTH man, who escaped being shot in last week’s deadly road rage incident on Higginson Highway, relived this week how he dodged the bullets and "ran for my life".

The 56-year-old survivor, who did not want to be named because he feared for his safety, said he was seated next to the driver when they came under attack.

Brandon "Spikes" Govender, 35, who was driving the white minibus at the time of the incident which occurred near the Moorton off-ramp, was shot dead. Two other passengers also sustained gunshot wounds and are recovering in hospital.

Govender was transporting 9 night shift staff from a newspaper company in Pinetown to their homes in Chatsworth around 5am last Thursday.

The survivor told the POST that Govender had tried to avoid a pothole when he knocked against the side mirror of a white double cab.

He claimed the occupants of the double cab had opened fire on them.

“After the accident, Brandon drove for about another 20 metres and then stopped the vehicle. When the men from the double cab opened fire on us, we drove off again. They were driving at high speed and chased after us. They then stopped on the highway and jumped off the van and shot at us. By that time, I think Brandon was already shot. But we did not know that.

“When we stopped, one of the suspects approached the driver’s side and one came to my side. They opened the sliding door and all of us crouched and tried to hide. When they opened fire again, Brandon drove off. He veered off the road and crashed into an embankment to bring the vehicle to a halt. He told us to jump off and run. The gunmen ran towards us from the road. We opened the door and ran for our lives. At that time, we didn't realise that Brandon was shot and was unable to get away.

“Two of our co-workers were also shot but they managed to escape. We were screaming for help. We could hear Brandon also screaming for help while we hid in the bushes near the highway. They then shot Brandon again. People living alongside the highway heard the gunshots and screams and called the police.

“About 20 minutes later, we exited the bush and went back to the minibus. Brandon was slumped in the driver's seat. He was dead. Police and security companies arrived and cordoned off the area, but they could not find the suspects.

"The gunmen had no mercy. They appeared intoxicated. Brandon was a hero. He was shot and he still tried to drive us to safety. But they came back and shot him again. God saved me. They were shooting wildly and I do not know how the bullets missed me.

“We are devastated that Brandon was killed. If it were not for his bravery, we would have had about 10 funerals and not one,” the survivor said.

Govender was a paint industry colour matcher by trade but worked at a local newspaper’s inserting department for the last three months, his brother told the POST.

He too did not want to be named.

“He drove on that fateful morning because the vehicle owner was on leave. I got the dreaded phone call early in the morning from the Croftdene Community Policing Forum (CPF) telling me that my baby brother had been killed. It was a nightmare. It felt like I was breaking into a million pieces. When I got to the scene, he was still in the vehicle. I felt so helpless. There was nothing I could do but just look at him. He was dead…

“Brandon always took care of our family, especially our mom. To date we have not heard from police about any arrests. But we hope that my brother’s killers are brought to book. My mother is not handling his death well. She is devastated. She never thought she would have to bury her child. This is difficult for my entire family.

“We want answers. We also need closure and if the perpetrators are arrested, it would give us comfort and peace knowing someone was being held to account from Brandon’s death. We are hoping, by God's grace, that justice is served,” he said.

Govender was laid to rest on Friday.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said the Chatsworth police were investigating two cases of attempted murder and one of murder.

THE POST