Melville shooting: ‘Skeem Saam’ actor named as one of the wounded

Mortimer Williams, famous for playing Ricci September in Erfsondes and Petersen in Skeem Saam, was one of the eight people wounded by gunfire on New Year’s Eve during the Melville shooting. Williams was performing at Poppy’s Restaurant in the Johannesburg suburb, where the deadly incident unfolded at 1:00 on Wednesday morning.

‘Skeem Saam’ actor shot in Melville

The actor has lived to tell the tale, as he and five others received hospital treatment for their non life-threatening injuries. Sadly, two people were declared dead at the scene. It was believed a third person had also passed away in Melville, but their death was linked to a different incident. Williams told SABC:

“The evening was going fairly flawlessly, everything was lovely, everyone was in good spirits. Without us even knowing, apparently, there was a bit of a tiff between certain parties. I was walking to one of my friends… It just sounded like firecrackers going off, but then when I hit the ground, I knew I had been shot.”

Candelight vigil set for Thursday evening

Locals have been left reeling in this part of Gauteng. The community spirit is palpable, and the devastating crime has left many “feeling numb”. A candlelight vigil is set to be held at Poppy’s on Thursday evening, getting underway at 19:00. Organisers have vowed to “stand against senseless violence”:

“What happened on New Year’s Eve, and we were witness to this tragedy a few minutes after the shooting, was beyond awful and tragic. We were left feeling numb and in shock and we think this is how most people who live in our beautiful community feel.

“We ask our Melville community to unite as a people that love Melville as the name of this group says. Let us unite in a candlelight vigil in 7th Street. To remember the victims, to unite as community and to send a message to all criminals that we as a community stand together against senseless violence like this.”

Melville Community statement