BLOEMFONTEIN – The Police in the Mangaung Metro an are investigating a murder and attempted murder following the fatal shooting on Thursday 13 August in the Hamilton Industrial Area.
Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane said the police responded to a call at around 20:00 of a shooting at a wholesale premises in Enterprise Street.
According to an eyewitness, balaclava-wearing men armed with high caliber firearms exited a private SUV, leaving the driver inside. The driver then sped off from the remaining suspects who approached the truck from both sides. Several shots were fired, fatally wounding the truck driver. The armed suspects then fled the scene.
Most of the incident can be seen on the CCTV footage that was shared on social media.
Upon arrival on the scene, police discovered a white Tata 518c Ex truck stationary in the middle of the main road. An 58-year-old male seated in the driver’s seat, slumped towards the passenger side, suffered a gunshot wound in the face.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the victim and a co-worker had just finished loading the truck to make a chicken delivery to Ficksburg when the attack took place. An unidentified white SUV arrived on the scene, parked for a while opposite another business before driving to the scene and suspects leaving the vehicle and opened fire on the delivery vehicle
The 58-year-old driver managed to put the truck in reverse to escape the gunfire, coming to a stop in the middle of the main road where he succumbed to his injuries. Two unknown African males armed with firearms confronted the passenger, demanding the key to the truck’s safe. The passenger extracted the ignition keys, threw them toward the suspects, and fled the scene to safety.
Also Read: Truck driver killed in armed attack in Bloemfontein industrial area.
Upon returning to the truck shortly after the suspects fled, the passenger found the driver motionless. The windshield of the truck sustained at least four bullet holes.
Emergency medical services were summoned, and the 58-year-old victim was officially certified dead at the scene. The identity of the deceased is being withheld pending the notification of next-of-kin.
Mangaung police have opened cases of Murder and Attempted Murder. No arrests have been made at this stage, and an intensive search for the suspects and the white SUV is still going on.
A business owner has expressed grave concern regarding general safety and the risk to continue trading in the industrial area.
Police appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the incident, noticed the white SUV in the area, or possesses information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators to contact Lt Col Kelaotswe Lebodi at 082 527 6348, SAPS Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or drop an anonymous tip-off on MySapsApp.
