Woman shot and killed near animal organisation in Muldersdrift

A woman was shot and killed after a robbery took place outside an animal rescue centre on May 20.

The alleged incident took place in the evening as Danielle (Dani) Labuschagne (36) arrived at the centre to borrow a cat trap when three men in black wearing balaclavas (masks) approached her vehicle and demanded she hand over her cellphone and laptop.

According to witness Karin Donald, she had opened the gate for Labuschagne when she received a message that she had arrived but did not see her vehicle coming into the property.

“The last conversation I had with her was during the day when I sent her the location to come get the trap, and she told me that she would make her way to the organisation after work later in the evening. She then indicated that she was one kilometre away, and when I arrived, she informed me, but I did not see her vehicle when I went outside to check.

“I then proceeded to contact her, but there was no response, and as soon as I made my way back inside, I heard a commotion. She was inside the property, but at a different cottage, which we call the showroom.

“The men who work at the centre had told me that they saw three men approach her car. She pleaded with them not to take anything and then locked herself in her car to try and escape because, when I arrived, I noticed the skid marks on the driveway. As she reversed her car, they shot through her window, and I quickly drove to the cottage after hearing the gunshot,” Donald said.

Donald told the Roodepoort Northsider that when she arrived on the scene, the three men had already fled, but the stolen laptop was found on the ground. She found Labuschagne’s car, with her hazards on and hooter going off, with Labuschagne slouched over her chair.

“I contacted the paramedics immediately, unlocked her door, and went inside to try and keep her conscious while awaiting an ambulance,” Donald added.

Paramedics arrived on the scene, but Labuschagne was unfortunately pronounced dead.

Police were contacted as well as a security company that patrols the area where their sniffer dogs found her stolen bag two roads from the property.

The Northsider approached the police for comment, but no response had been received at the time of publishing.