On Saturday afternoon, a Mercedes-Benz vehicle with five occupants was driving along the Pieters road near Ezakheni when they were chased by another car. The people in the chasing car opened fire on them, riddling the Mercedes with bullets. Every single person in the Mercedes was hit, including the driver. As a result, the driver lost control and left the road. As stated, all five occupants in the Mercedes sustained gunshot wounds and one, a woman, died instantly. The other four were seriously injured and taken to hospital for treatment. It is believed that at least two if not more have died since.
Cases of murder and (four counts of) attempted murder have been opened at Ladysmith police station.
Sadly, while only speculation at this stage, it is believed that the initial attack on the Mercedes was a case of mistaken identity, as it is unlikely that suspected taxi hit-men would have targeted an ordinary family. It is believed that their intended target, travelling in a similar car, managed to elude them.
The car they eventually put 38 bullet holes in was actually traveling between Guateng and KZN to attend a wedding.
Adding to the tragedy is the fact that the attack led to a taxi crash and a later car wash shooting that left between 16 and 19 dead altogether.
