CAPE TOWN - A state witness in a case of a former Standard Bank manager, accused of dealing in drugs and guns, has been shot dead in Cape Town.
Christopher Carelse was Raed Cupido's co-accused before turning state witness.
According to a police report, two men got out of a gold vehicle and chased and shot Carelse multiple times.
Just two weeks after turning state witness in a drug-trafficking trial Carelse was shot dead in Kensington, Cape Town.
Accused one in the case is former Standard Bank manager Cupido. He was arrested in June last year at a self storage facility in Roeland Street.
In what police termed a high-stakes, intelligence-driven operation, they uncovered a massive stash of drugs and illegal firearms in the possession of Cupido. They discovered 15 kilograms of cocaine — packaged in 1kg bricks — with an estimated street value of R18 million.
In addition to the narcotics, police confiscated a cache of illegal firearms, including an AK-47 assault rifle, an Uzi submachine gun, five 9mm pistols, and a range of ammunition.
A month later he was joined in the dock by Carelse who was also charged with being in possession of drugs and illegal firearms. After several failed bail attempts by both, Carelse turned state witness and charges were withdrawn against him .
Carelse's neighbours in First Street said they heard gun shots around 4pm, they did not want to say anything more.
Cupido, who is being held at Pollsmoor prison will be back in court for his trial in August.
Watch video for full report by Ayesha Ismail