Victim of bullet-riddled ambush on R21 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 died in hospital early on Wednesday morning, according to the police, reports the Boksburg Advertiser.

The driver and his passenger were critically wounded when a gang of gunmen, driving in two Volkswagen Golfs, opened fire on their vehicle, which was reportedly transporting gold and driving towards Kempton Park.

WATCH: Car left riddled with bullet holes in Joburg ambush

The injured pair was immediately rushed to hospital, and their vehicle was left riddled with bullet holes following the shooting.

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It appears 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 Land Cruiser until they lost control of the vehicle a few metres 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.

In the victims’ vehicle officers found a small box containing gold.

It is believed the robbers, who are still at large, were targeting the gold. Police are investigating the shooting.

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Caught in the crossfire

A motorist was also left stranded after his bakkie was damaged in the shooting.

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 Boksburg Advertiser that he heard a loud bang before swerving to the right to pull over.

He thought it was a tyre that had burst. 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 out and were actually chasing and shooting at the fleeing Toyota Land Cruiser. I thought I was going to be killed,” said the driver.

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