Mother believes Kraaifontein rugby player was targeted in fatal shooting - IOL

25-year-old rugby player Daylon Galant was shot and killed in Scottsville, Kraaifontein, on Tuesday night.

A night-time shooting in Kraaifontein has robbed a family of a 25-year-old son and a local rugby club of one of its players.

Daylon Galant died as his mother and grandmother rushed to his side after he was shot in the head on Tuesday night.

Galant, who lived with his father in Scottsville, was reportedly on his way to see his girlfriend after rugby practice when he was attacked.

His mother, Janine Scholtz, said her family was devastated and struggling to come to terms with his death.

“That was around 9.30pm when they phoned me. I am told that there was a black car waiting for him in Petunia Street. They just started shooting.

“When his grandmother and I got to the scene, he was bleeding a lot. When I saw that he was shot in the head, I knew my child would not make it.

“We saw him breathe out his last breath. It was almost like he was just waiting for me and his grandmother,” she said through tears.

Scholtz said the family still had no answers about why Galant was killed.

“We still don’t know who shot him and why. They were probably jealous of him,” she said.

She described her son as a lively young man who loved making jokes.

“Just last week he jokingly asked if I am ready to become a grandmother. That is just the type of boy he was. I still need to speak to his girlfriend to confirm if he was indeed joking. She is also devastated and could not even come to the scene.

“If it is true, that means he will now never get to see his child.”

Galant played for Hands and Heart RFC, which remembered him as a talented player.

“He was a talented young player who had the crowd on their feet the moment he had the ball in hand,” the club said.

Galant’s mother says she still does not know why her son was gunned down.

His killing came just a day after another young Kraaifontein rugby player was gunned down.

Eltino “Malkak” Fortuin, 27, of Morningstar Rugby Club, was one of two men killed in separate shootings at Gabrielle Court in Scottsdene on Monday.

Police said Fortuin suffered multiple gunshot wounds. About 30 minutes later, a 20-year-old man was also shot dead in the same block. Both were declared dead at the scene.

Provincial police spokesperson Thembakazi Mpendukana confirmed detectives were investigating Galant’s murder after the shooting in Greymaur Street, Scottsville, at about 8.50pm on Tuesday.

“A 25-year-old male victim endured gunshot wounds in his head and he was declared deceased on the crime scene by medical personnel. Investigation is ongoing, the motive is still unknown, and no arrest has been made yet,” Mpendukana said.