Provincial police spokesperson Captain Tshekiso Mofokeng said that four people were arrested after the incident. Two people were injured, one is from a taxi association while the other was a bystander.
They were both airlifted to hospital.
UPDATE: 4 May, 4.26pm
A press release issued on the Mall of Africa website confirmed that an unfortunate incident took place at around 3pm on Magwe Crescent, Waterfall City in the vicinity of the Waterfall Hospital and the area west of Mall of Africa, when a shoot-out occurred between taxi operators.
“We can confirm that the SAPS and JMPD responded within minutes, and took decisive action, and suspects were arrested. There remains a large police and emergency services presence, and the area has been closed off to traffic and public.”
The statement also read that mall trading will continue as normal. “The Mall of Africa’s top priority is the safety and security of our customers and employees, and we will take whatever measures are deemed necessary to ensure this.”
UPDATE: 4 May, 3.30pm
Reports of a shootout at the brand-new Mall of Africa are flooding social media.
According to Danny Maduray of Ria Sebetsa Security Services two suspects have been arrested.
Maduray believes it was sparked by taxi violence but confirmed that shots were fired and that police were on the scene.
A police helicopter is circling the area. Maduray said that the incident took place close to Maxwell Drive, near the Netcare Waterfall Hospital.
Athlenda Mathe, the Media Liaison Officer for Netcare 911 is on the scene and stated that three people were shot at the Mall during an alleged taxi violence dispute. “Reports from the scene indicate that one bystander and two people believed to be taxi bosses have been wounded,” she stated.
She added that the Netcare2 helicopter has airlifted the critically injured bystander to a Johannesburg hospital for further medical care and the two wounded taxi bosses are being treated on scene and will be transported to a nearby hospital for further medical care.
MALL OF AFRICA SHOOTING SCENE : https://t.co/b9mf0w1Dfe
— REZA (@crimeairnetwork) May 4, 2016
TAXI VIOLENCE : MALL OF AFRICA. 1 BYSTANDER B/F SHOT. AWAIT UPDATE. pic.twitter.com/NyQehEz4gn
— REZA (@crimeairnetwork) May 4, 2016
#MallofAfricaShooting latest images from the scene. More on #eNCA and https://t.co/JDOX5xiiew soon pic.twitter.com/cu0cDuSrjp
— eNCA (@eNCA) May 4, 2016
JUST IN: #MallofAfricaShooting Two suspects have been arrested after a shootout at the mall. One suspect injured. One bystander injured.
— eNCA (@eNCA) May 4, 2016
Nearby residents have shared their thoughts on the shootout via Twitter.
That mall of Africa will be thieves playground
— Luvish (@luvish04) May 4, 2016
https://twitter.com/Phumee_P/status/727851064125472768
https://twitter.com/Cocoa_Bella_/status/727851004725755904
https://twitter.com/CandidTshia/status/727850054749425664
This is a developing story. Updates will be published when they become available.
