By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Alex FM presenter and music compiler Joshua “Jorontinah” Mbatha was shot dead on Thursday night.
A statement by the station said that Mbatha, or DJ Jorontinah, as he was affectionately known was killed during a robbery.
He was on his way home with two of his colleagues when they were stopped by about three gunmen.
They took their phones and shoes before shooting Mbatha in the chest.
The other two colleagues, Sammy Ramodike and Matome Mookanedi, were not physically harmed but were traumatised by the incident.
The details surrounding the killings of four other people have not yet been confirmed by police.
In July last year Alex FM was off air for some time after residents stormed into the station’s offices during unrest and stole equipment. It was estimated that the station suffered around R5 million in damages.
Gauteng Premier, David Makhura said he had learned with “great rage” about the series of shootings in the township which came shortly after the Soweto killings over the weekend.
We are deeply disturbed and troubled by the increasing number of senseless killings of innocent residents. Criminals cannot hold our people at ransom in this manner. Violence and violent crime have no place in our society,” Makhura said.
“We are calling on communities to assist the police in their investigation and to immediately come forward and report these heinous killings at their nearest police station,” he added.
Makhura was expected to visit Alexandra Police Station with Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela then visit the victims in hospital.