What started as a peaceful protest for clean drinking water took a violent turn in North West's Moeka village, leaving a young man dead and several homes in flames.
Thulani Sithole, 21, who was fatally shot through the head at the weekend, was among a group of residents who barricaded a main road to demand drinking water.
He was shot metres from his home as his elder brother, Alfred, watched in horror.
"I was just a few metres from him when a group of people opened fire randomly. As we took cover I saw him fall to the ground. I heard someone scream: 'Thulani is dead'," Alfred said.
According to a police spokesman five people were arrested in connection with murder and public violence charges.
