UPDATE: Victim of R21 ambush dies
The second victim is, however, still fighting for his life in hospital.
One of the two men who suffered gunshot wounds during the R21 ambush has died in hospital early this morning (March 20), according to the police.
The driver and his passenger were critically wounded when a gang of gunmen, driving in two Volkswagen Golf cars, opened fire on their vehicle which was reportedly transporting gold and driving towards Kempton Park.
The injured pair was immediately rushed to hospital, and their motor vehicle was left riddled with bullet holes following the shooting.
It appears that the shooting started as the victims’ Toyota Land Cruiser was off-ramping from the N12 moving onto the R21. The thugs repeatedly fired shots at the Toyota Land Cruiser until they lost control of the vehicle a few metres away from the Griffiths Road bridge near Emperors Palace.
One victim sustained a gunshot wound to the head and the other was found with gunshot wounds to his upper torso.
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In the victims’ vehicle officers found a small box containing gold.
It is believed that the robbers, who are still at large, were targeting the gold. Police are investigating the shooting.
Caught in the crossfire
Apparently two other vehicles, a Ford Ranger and Renault, were also caught in the crossfire of the attempted robbery.
The driver of the Ford Ranger, who was from Pongola and on his way to Pretoria, told this publication that he heard a loud bang, before swerving to the right to pull over.
He thought it was a tyre that has bust. In the process, the Toyota Land Cruiser, which was driving behind him, crashed into the left side of his vehicle, and continued to drive away from the gunmen.
“I then realised that the people in the two Golfs had shot my rear left tyre and were actually chasing and shooting at the fleeing Toyota Land Cruiser. I thought I was going to be killed,” said the driver.
Also Read: WATCH: Car left riddled with bullet holes in R21 ambush
