The Soutpansberg community is still in shock with the news that two Indian businessmen had been brutally gunned down in a period of two days.

According to information supplied by the Makhado police, an unknown number of assailants followed Mr Bhavesh Desai (43) to his farm house on Sunday evening.

The police said that Bhavesh was trying to escape from his pursuers, but they caught up with him when security guards at his home failed to open the gate for him in time. When Bhavesh tried to speed away from his home’s gate, the attacker(s) opened fire. Six bullets hit his vehicle “They fired shots at his vehicle and a bullet injured him,” said local police spokesperson Const Irene Radzilane.

Bhavesh was rushed to hospital but was declared dead upon arrival.

Bhavesh lived with his wife and three children next to the family’s business, Wylliespoort Trading Store (Desai Cash & Carry), which is situated about 30km north of Makhado (Louis Trichardt) on the N1. He was travelling home alone after visiting family in Eltivillas when the fatal attack took place.

The motive behind Bhavesh’s killing is still unclear, and the police have confirmed that nothing was stolen during the attack.

Bhavesh's family were devastated by the news of his death and too traumatized to give an interview to the Zoutpansberger. His parents, who were in India at the time of the attack, had to rush home, so that they could bury their beloved son. Bhavesh was laid to rest here in Makhado (Louis Trichardt) on Tuesday, and leaves behind is wife, Shewta, his son, and twin daughters.

The news of Bhavesh’s murder was met with outrage and sadness here in Makhado (Louis Trichardt), where many of his relatives, family and business friends stay. “I feel like I have lost a brother,” said Mr Johan Steyn, who has done business with Bhavesh and his family for many years. “We became more than just business friends,” Steyn said.

While people were still processing the news of Bhavesh’s fatal shooting, news came that a second Indian businessman had been gunned down on Monday. Mr Imityaz Faruk Motala of Thohoyandou was also shot and killed at the front gate of his home in Thohoyandou. The 35-year-old Motala, who traded in furniture, was killed when armed robbers ambushed him at his gate on Monday evening. He was shot in the head, after which the robbers fled with nearly R200 000.

In both cases, no arrests have been made yet.