Tebogo Monama

Tebogo Monama

A Pimville, Soweto family is in mourning after a neighbour fatally shot their sister by mistake on New Year's Day.

Their sister died on the scene.

Martha Moeketsi, 51, was shot by her neighbour at her North Riding townhouse, west of Johannesburg, after thinking she was a robber.

Moeketsi, who lived alone, allegedly called her female neighbour in the early hours of New Year's Day when intruders broke into her house.

Her sister Dorcas said: "She asked her neighbour to call the police but when she got too scared she jumped over the wall separating her house and that of her neighbour's. The neighbour thought she was one of the robbers and she shot her in the forehead."

She said that they met with the distraught neighbour and a priest after the incident.

West Rand police spokesman Captain Joseph Magoai said: "A murder case will be opened against the neighbour. The court will decide if it was a mistake."