Spokesperson Lieutenant Rebecca Phatlane said a friend was assisting the man, who was rushed to the Steve Biko academic hospital.
A bullet entered his upper body under his left arm and there was no exit wound.
Phatlane said the victim’s friend told the police the two of them were walking down Danie Theron Street, taking orders for products they were selling.
“The friend was walking a bit ahead of the victim and when he turned around to look for his friend he saw him sprawled on the ground,” she said.
“The victim is an asthma sufferer and the friend’s first instinct was that he had an asthma attack. When he reached his friend’s side he saw the bullet wound under his arm.”
