Shooting, hijacking in Kensington

Police are investigating an attempted murder case following a shooting that took place in Cumberland Road on Thursday.

Constable Mpho Mashakane, the Cleveland SAPS communications officer, said a man and his driver had left the Diamond Centre in Johannesburg.

“They were in Northumberland Road in Kensington when the occupants of two cars started shooting at them. Three R5 rifle cartridges were found in Northumberland Road,” said Const Mashakane. The suspects chased the victims to Cumberland Road.

They were close to the army base when they shot out the rear window of the vehicle.

“According to witnesses, these suspects stepped out dressed in police bullet proof vests. They opened the victim’s car and took a bag which is alleged to have contained diamonds worth R700 000. They drove away in a black AMG Mercedes Benz and a white BMW 1 Series,” said Const Mashakane.

The man and his driver were taken to hospital. He sustained a scratch on his cheek after a bullet penetrated the rear window. He also sustained injuries to his ribs.

“The driver did not have visible injuries but he was also taken to hospital,” said Const Mashakane. At the time of going to print, the number of suspects involved was not confirmed by the SAPS.

This incident took place minutes after a hijacking in the suburb.

Const Mashakane said a woman was on her way to pick up her child in Bedfordview when she was blocked by the suspects, another group, in a white BMW at the corner of Lancaster and Cadiff roads in Kensington.

“One of the suspects stepped out of the car and pointed a firearm at her. He instructed her to get out of the car. She and her sister, who was with her at the time, stepped out of the vehicle,” said Const Mashakane.

The woman apparently pleaded with the suspects to give her her purse. The men threw it to her and drove off with her BMW X5. The vehicle was later recovered in Doornfontein.

Const Mashakane said there were about six suspects involved in this incident.