Litha Govuza murder: Family of teen shot dead in incident captured on video want justice

The family of a 19-year-old boy who was shot dead at a spaza shop in Driftsands, Cape Town, says they are struggling to come to terms with his killing.

Litha Govuza and his friend were attacked while waiting for their order at a shop on the corner of Duif and Langeni streets in Driftsands on 21 February in the evening.

Police said an unknown faded silver-brown Datsun seven-seater vehicle stopped at the café. Three unidentified men got out of the vehicle and randomly opened fire on the victims.

Govuza was shot in the head and upper body, while his friend was shot in both legs.

Both victims were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment; however, Govuza was declared dead on arrival.

Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said one of the suspects fired the shots, while another recorded the incident.

“The second unidentified male was busy recording the whole ordeal and shouting at the gunman to shoot,” he said.

“The footage was collected from surveillance cameras in the area, and it became clear that this person is considered a person of interest who could assist in the investigation,” added van Wyk.

Driftsands falls under the Mfuleni policing precinct, an area that has seen several extortion-related shootings in recent months.

A small number of community members gathered outside his home in Driftsands, singing and holding placards reading “Justice for Litha” in support of the grieving family.

Nearly a month after Govuza was shot and killed near his home, his family is still waiting for justice.

Instead of answers, the family said they have been retraumatised by a video circulating on social media that appears to show his execution.

Eyewitness News visited the victim’s family, where Litha’s uncle, Ayanda Govuza, described where he was when he received the news.

“I received a call while visiting someone at a nearby informal settlement, telling me to rush back home. While walking back, I saw a crowd in Duif Street. As I got closer to the shop, I saw Litha’s friend lying there, but he was conscious and talking.”

At that moment, he said he did not know that Litha had also been shot.

“As they were putting his friend into a car to go to the hospital, I wanted to go with them until someone told me to get closer to the shop because my nephew had also been shot. I saw him kneeling, and I helped get him into the car while trying to speak to him. Unfortunately, he died by the time we reached the hospital. I’m still not okay from that.”

Litha’s sister, Khanya Govuza, told Eyewitness News that the family wants answers about why her brother was targeted.

“It’s very painful to watch that video because Litha was a good boy. I don’t think he ever even touched a gun in his life, so it’s painful to see him die like that, as if he had done something wrong. You can see in the video that they were targeted deliberately, but we don’t know why. It’s not like they were being robbed or anything. It’s very painful.”

In a statement released on Thursday, police said they are closing in on a person who could be key to solving the case.

“Provincial Serious and Violent Crime detectives are seeking the assistance of the public to trace the person depicted in the photos, who is a person of interest in a murder and attempted murder case committed in Mfuleni,” the statement read.

However, Khanya Govuza said the family has not received any updates from the police since the incident.

She believes authorities are failing them.

“Why are they only releasing a statement now, a month after the incident? They have footage showing everything: all three gunmen, the car, and its registration number. Why hasn’t anyone been arrested?” she said.

Litha’s uncle, Unathi Govuza, said the family is living in fear.

“It’s hard for us even to leave the house. I’m scared to go to the shops. We are very traumatised by what we saw in that video. We still have Litha’s image in our minds, pleading with the gunman not to shoot him,” he said.

Police have urged anyone with information that could assist the investigation to contact Detective Captain Johan Louw on 082 522 1529 or call Crime Stop on 08600 10111.