Man shot dead after confrontation with former girlfriend’s partner in Blackburn

A man was shot and killed during an alleged confrontation with his former girlfriend and her current boyfriend at an informal settlement in Blackburn, north of Durban, on Saturday morning.

Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) said its Operations Centre received a call for assistance at about 5.35am after reports of a shooting at a one-room rented dwelling.

According to information gathered at the scene, the man, believed to be in his mid-30s, arrived at the residence of his former girlfriend and began knocking aggressively on the door. The woman opened the door while her current boyfriend remained inside the room.

RUSA said the man allegedly told the current boyfriend that he was not there to confront him before an argument erupted.

The dispute allegedly centred on items the deceased claimed he had previously bought for his former girlfriend. The woman denied that any of his belongings remained at the residence.

The current boyfriend told reaction officers he had been lying on the bed when the man allegedly produced an Okapi knife and attempted to stab him.

He claimed he feared for his life, retrieved his licensed firearm from beneath his pillow and fired a single shot in what he described as an act of self-defence.

The man collapsed outside the dwelling and was declared dead at the scene.

Reaction officers recovered an Okapi knife and a spent cartridge casing.

According to RUSA, further enquiries established that the deceased was known in the area. Officers also learnt that he had allegedly left his pregnant partner at home before travelling to confront his former girlfriend.

The scene was handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS), which is investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting. No arrests had been announced at the time of publication, and the identity of the deceased had not been released.