Police have launched an investigation following the tragic shooting of 27-year-old Tshepang Phokobye, whose body was discovered in the early hours of Sunday morning in Hammanskraal. The young man, who was from the Marokolong area, was found lying near the roadside on Dacman Street with a gunshot wound. Authorities are still searching for answers as the circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear.
According to reports, the discovery of Phokobye’s body shocked both the local community and his family. Police were called to the scene after residents reportedly noticed the body and alerted authorities. Forensic teams later arrived and began gathering evidence as part of the 
investigation.
Family members say they were devastated to learn about the incident, especially because they did not receive the news directly from officials. Instead, they discovered what had happened after photographs of the crime scene began circulating on social media platforms.
A relative of the deceased, Lerato Baloyi, explained that the family first became aware of the tragedy through the internet. By the time they arrived at the scene, forensic services had already removed the body.
“We only found out about his death when we saw the pictures circulating online. When we got to the scene, the forensic team had already taken his body away,” Baloyi said.
According to information shared by the family, Phokobye had left his home on Saturday to attend a ceremony. At the time, there was no indication that anything was wrong. It was believed that he was simply spending time with friends before returning home later.
The last known person to see him alive was a friend who later told the family that they had parted ways at the Pienaars River Garage. After that moment, Phokobye was not seen again until his body was discovered hours later along the roadside.
Phokobye was described by both family members and community members as someone who was openly gay and well known in the area. His death has raised concerns among residents who are now calling for a thorough investigation to determine what exactly happened that night.
Police spokesperson Johan van Dyk confirmed that a murder case has been officially opened. Investigators are currently working to gather more information and determine the events that led to the fatal shooting.
“According to information from the community, Tshepang was openly gay and known in the area,” van Dyk said.
At this stage, police have not identified any suspects, and the motive behind the shooting remains unknown. Investigators are urging anyone who might have information that could help the case to come forward.
Authorities believe that members of the community may hold valuable details that could assist police in tracking down those responsible for the crime.
Anyone with information that could help with the investigation is encouraged to contact Francinah Kwakwa at 082 370 7138 or Lerato Baloyi at 066 593 8327. Police are also appealing to witnesses or anyone who may have seen suspicious activity in the area to report it to the nearest police station.
The investigation continues as the family and community hope for justice for Tshepang Phokobye.
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