Landfill site shooting – truck driver, civilian shot and injured

A truck driver and civilian were shot and injured leading to the deployment of the South African National Defence Force to the Simmer and Jack landfill site.

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This was due to a conflict and shooting between illegal miners and waste reclaimers at the landfill site on March 24.

The second shooting incident was at the intersection of Main Reef and Johan Rissik roads where an EMPD vehicle was damaged as a result.

Due to the violence, the site was temporarily closed. Numerous law enforcement agencies were on the scene for most of Friday.

According to Germiston SAPS communications officer Constable Maxwell Mabunda, the truck driver was at the site dumping waste when he heard gunshots.

“He felt the glass of his window shatter in his face.

“He was caught in the crossfire between illegal miners and waste reclaimers. Seeking a place of safety he then drove his truck to make a stop at the corner of Johan Rissik and Main Reef roads,” said Mabunda.

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“A metro officer, who was driving in the direction of Germiston, noticed a large group of people crossing the road carrying firearms.

“They started shooting at the EMPD vehicle. The officer returned fire.

The group of suspects, believed to be illegal miners, then ran into Marathon informal settlement and disappeared.

Several shell casings of high-powered firearms and rifles were later found at this scene.

“The suspects were chased by law enforcement through the dump site and across the railroad bridge to the veld behind Pencil Park towards Geldenhuis train station.”

He said one of the suspects was critically wounded in a shootout with SAPS and security, which was the third shootout for the day.

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“One firearm was recovered following this shootout and three other suspects, armed with firearms, managed to escape.

The wounded suspect was treated on scene by first responders before being transported to hospital by a state ambulance,” said Mabunda.

Mabunda said further reports from security companies indicated that another group of suspected illegal miners were seen fleeing the landfill site and running to the Primrose Hill High School and towards the Primrose cemetery.

“Learners were immediately evacuated to the school hall. Primrose CPF and Circinus security company arrived at the school and assisted with the evacuation of the children.

“Spider Tactical then proceeded towards the site and came upon the damaged EMPD vehicle parked on Zinnia Street,” said Mabunda.

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“They found the civilian also caught in crossfire who had been shot in the head by a stray bullet. The victim works at a nearby workshop and was transported privately to the hospital.

“The suspects were reported to have been armed with roughly six ‘long’ guns and pistols.”

A case of attempted murder was opened at the Germiston Police Station.

The situation compelled the City of Ekurhuleni to temporarily close the landfill site and allow the military to stabilise the situation.

“Waste removal trucks were redirected to the Platkop landfill site, near Vosloorus, to offload until the Simmer and Jack facility re-opens,” said CoE spokesperson Zweli Dlamini.

At the time of going to print, GCN was unable to obtain confirmation on whether the site was still closed.