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2 months ago
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Police in Mpumalanga are searching for gunmen who ambushed a vehicle in Hazyview and shot dead two men.
- Two men were shot dead and a woman critically injured when gunmen ambushed their vehicle in broad daylight along Nyongane Main Road in Hazyview.
- A two-month-old infant, who was in the vehicle during the attack, survived the shooting without any injuries.
- Police in Mpumalanga have activated a 72-hour manhunt as authorities urge the suspects to surrender.
A brazen daylight ambush in Hazyview has left two men dead, a woman fighting for her life, and a two-month-old infant miraculously unharmed, prompting police in Mpumalanga to activate an urgent 72-hour manhunt for the gunmen responsible.
The shooting occurred on Tuesday afternoon along Nyongane Main Road, where four occupants travelling in a vehicle were ambushed by an unknown number of armed suspects, who were allegedly hiding in nearby bushes.
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, on Wednesday said the suspects opened fire on the vehicle while it was in motion.
“The driver managed to continue driving for approximately 200 metres before colliding with another vehicle from behind and coming to a stop,” Ndubane said.
According to police, the gunmen, who were on foot, then approached the vehicle and fired shots at close range.
The driver and his male passenger were killed instantly.
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The wounded woman, believed to be the driver’s wife, sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to the hospital in a critical condition.
“Upon responding to the complaint, police found two adult males with gunshot wounds who were certified deceased at the scene. The woman sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to the hospital. Miraculously, the infant was unharmed,” Ndubane said.
In response to the brazen attack, Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, activated a 72-hour plan aimed at tracking down and arresting the perpetrators.
“We cannot live in a society where people open fire and kill others in broad daylight, while also endangering the life of an innocent minor,” Mkhwanazi said.
Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Jackie Macie, condemned the attack and called on the suspects to surrender to the police.
Macie said:
They can run, but they can’t hide. Someone, somewhere in the area, knows these wanted perpetrators. We are calling for them to surrender to our officers.
He added that the provincial government had full confidence in the police to bring the suspects to book.
“We don’t tolerate crime in our province. We can’t share the same space with criminals. We believe our police will arrest them within the stipulated 72 hours,” Macie said.
Macie described the attack as unprovoked and said the presence of a minor in the vehicle made the incident even more disturbing.
“What worsens the situation is that a minor could have lost a life to brazen armed thugs. We are sending a stern message to the criminals to hand themselves over, or we will hunt them. We wish the surviving victim a speedy recovery and offer our condolences to the bereaved,” he said.
Police investigations are continuing, and no arrests have been made at this stage.
