JOHANNESBURG – A man (58) is expected to appear in the Johannesburg magistrate’s court today facing charges of murder and attempted murder following a shooting in Emmarentia on Sunday that left a man dead and his wife wounded.
The incident occurred after a minor collision between two vehicles escalated into a violent confrontation in front of the couple’s children.
According to reports, the altercation between the two drivers progressed from a verbal dispute to a physical fight. A female passenger allegedly retrieved a firearm from one of the vehicles, whilst one of the drivers also drew a gun. Shots were fired, killing the man and wounding his wife.
The victim has been identified as Faisal Ul Rehman (48)
The couple’s young son attempted to perform CPR on his father at the scene, but Rehman was declared dead. His wife was transported to hospital where she is recovering.
The full incident was also caught on camera by a passer-by.
The latest incident comes as the High Court in Upington imposed life sentences on John Ivan Francious Mouton (50) for a road rage double murder in December 2022.
Mouton was convicted on two counts of murder and four counts of attempted murder following a collision on 17 December 2022. After the accident, Mouton retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and threatened the other driver, Joshua Rock.
When Shadrack Dube, a friend of Rock, arrived and attempted to intervene, Mouton discharged his firearm twice.
Shortly afterwards, the vehicle owner Boiphelo Khumalo arrived at the scene with several individuals, including off-duty police officer Ranchia Nokayi. Whilst Nokayi was on the phone to police, Mouton began shooting indiscriminately. Both Dube and Khumalo sustained fatal gunshot wounds. Mouton then fired at four other individuals, including Nokayi, but none was injured.
Mouton claimed he acted in self-defence, alleging that Dube was armed and that Khumalo posed a threat. The State successfully argued that Mouton’s actions were unjustified and that he had deliberately targeted unarmed individuals. The court rejected his version, finding that he had the direct intention to kill Dube and Khumalo and that his actions were premeditated.
The court imposed life imprisonment for each murder count and 10 years’ imprisonment for each of the four attempted murder counts, with all sentences running concurrently.
The National Prosecuting Authority said the case underscored the devastating consequences when individuals choose violence over lawful conduct.
“Individuals entrusted with firearms are expected to exercise restraint, discipline and sound judgment always. Road rage and acts of retaliation have no place in a lawful society,” the NPA said in a statement.
Conflict and dispute resolution specialist Andre Vlok said the Emmarentia incident reflects a broader societal problem with conflict resolution skills in South Africa.
“It’s not a fender-bender problem; it’s a society problem. We need to give people options. We can’t rationalise or debate people out of this type of conduct,” Vlok said.
He cited frustration, anxiety and fear as key precursors to violence, warning that a lack of effective conflict resolution skills leads to a culture where minor disputes can escalate into deadly confrontations.
Vlok encouraged motorists to recognise and manage their emotions when driving, particularly in tense situations.
“Just noticing your emotions helps you when that guy cuts you off or flips you the finger. Do I drive away? Do I get out of the car? Do I get out of the situation?” he said.
He recalled a personal experience where he chose to de-escalate a road rage incident by giving the other driver a thumbs-up and a smile rather than reacting aggressively.
“Just doing the unexpected gives people a little bit of space to breathe, to smile,” he said.
The suspect in the Emmarentia shooting remains in custody pending his court appearance.
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