Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela has condemned the violence and called for restraint following three separate incidents on Monday, 2 December, during which a total of five victims lost their lives and nine were injured, including a policeman who was airlifted to hospital after sustaining serious injuries.
According to a media statement by Brigadier Mathapelo Peters on behalf of the South African Police Services, in the first incident around 5am on Monday morning (2 December) near the Plaza Taxi Rank in Olievenhoutbosch, the driver of a taxi patrol vehicle was fatally shot while three passengers in the car survived the shooting and were rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
“Later at around 6.55pm on the same day on the corner of Ruimte and Appiesdoring Streets, Heuweloord in the Wierdabrug policing area, a vehicle with no registration numbers allegedly stopped alongside a stationary taxi on Ruimte Road. Three armed men allegedly alighted from the vehicle and fired shots at the taxi, fatally wounding three men who were inside the taxi. The suspects then escaped in the same vehicle.
“A police member was shot and critically wounded at around about the same time as the incident on Ruimte Street near Mall @55 in Olievenhoutbosch when shots were allegedly fired randomly from an unknown vehicle. Six other victims sustained injuries, while one person was declared dead on the scene.”
Peters added that Lieutenant General Mawela has called for the immediate mobilisation of maximum resources to ensure that the perpetrators of these violent acts are apprehended and more importantly, that the violence does not escalate further.
“As the police, we are duty-bound to ensure the safety of commuters who rely on taxis as a means of transport, especially during this festive season period where people will be travelling long and short distances to different destinations,” the police commissioner said.
Mawela further assured the public that the police will work around the clock to ensure that the perpetrators of the violence are found and arrested.
According to Peters, cases of murder and attempted murder will be investigated.
Witnesses or anyone who may have information that could lead to the identification and apprehension of the suspects are urged to call the Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or give a tip-off anonymously on the My SAPS app.
Related article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/206459/police-minister-bheki-cele-announces-lieutenant-general-mawela-new-gauteng-provincial-commissioner/
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/230863/shooting-leaves-one-dead-two-critical/
