The SAPS provincial spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo said a case of discharging of firearm in a public space will be investigated following this afternoon’s incident at the corner of Cumberland and Allum roads near South Kensington where numerous shots were fired.
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The gathering by taxi drivers was reportedly done as part of a spiritual rites practice after another shooting on Sunday when two people were killed. It is unclear what weapons were used and a witness in the area described hearing the discharging of rapid gunfire.
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LISTEN: Witness describes hearing the discharging of rapid gunfire
Also read: Two dead, one injured in Bruma shooting
“They were ‘collecting the spirits of the deceased’,” Cleveland SAPS Station Commander Col Mpe Motaung said shortly after the incident.
“JMPD escorted them. We are not sure who authorised the escorting,” said Motaung.
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“Two JMPD patrol vehicles blocked off traffic lanes for a cleansing ceremony just before 1pm today at Allum Road and Cumberland Street, near Eastgate,” commented Wayne Minnaar, spokesperson for Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department.
“The ceremony was held by the family of a taxi owner who was killed there recently. Other taxi drivers started firing shots into the air. These drivers were attending the cultural ritual. No arrests were made and the JMPD does not condone the shooting. This incident is however being investigated by the SAPS who arrived on the scene soon after the shooting,” said Minnaar.
WATCH:
This is totally unacceptable and criminal, I believe this took place in East Gate/ Bruma area today, I have instructed @JoburgMPD to immidiately investigate and work with #SAPS to apprehend the culprits.@HermanMashaba @CoJPublicSafety @AsktheChiefJMPD @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/w4jl1J9gT7
— Michael Sun (@MichaelSun168) March 27, 2019
@AsktheChiefJMPD @SAPoliceService @MichaelSun168 your officers are a damned disgrace to the uniform and to this country. They stood watching a bunch of criminals illegally discharging thier firearms into the air in a public place. 140 casings, damage to God knows what. Pathetic! pic.twitter.com/6hrwHseWYl
— Tim Flack (@tim_meh87) March 27, 2019
https://twitter.com/keithtamkei/status/1110874771091275782
https://twitter.com/mthu_d/status/1110871150475784192
