Two KwaZulu-Natal men believed to be taxi owners were gunned down in a drive-by shooting on Hazelmere Drive in Mhlasini, Verulam, on Monday morning.
According to Prem Balram, the Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) spokesperson said residents in the area contacted the private armed response team after hearing a volley of shots being fired.
“Some callers confirmed that two people were shot but were unable to confirm the extent of their wounds,” said the statement.
“According to witnesses, the deceased were taxi owners. They were talking to each other at the Mhlasini taxi rank when the occupants of a white Ford Ranger opened fire on them.”
Balram added that the scene was still active around 8am and an investigation into the double murder was underway.
Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala, the provincial police spokesperson confirmed the incident and said the two men, aged 41 and 46, were gunned down while at a taxi rank at about 7am.
Gwala said the suspect took two bags from the victims and fled in a getaway vehicle.
Meanwhile, the Department of Correctional Services and the families of two women allegedly murdered by a Hillcrest SAPS member who was their lover, have confirmed that the officer killed himself while in custody at Westville Prison.
Mlungisi Blessing Sikhakhane was charged with the murders of his long-term girlfriend, Sthembile Ngobese, and his girlfriend of fewer than five months, Enhle Majola.
The fathers of the two deceased women on Monday confirmed to the Daily News that, on Sunday, they had learned through law enforcement that Sikhakhane had taken his life.
Sikhakhane is alleged to have shot the two women in KwaNyuswa, where he was renting.
He was expected to apply for bail on January 19 at the Pinetown Magistrates Court. This after he had previously abandoned bail.
Source: IOL, The Citizen, Times Live, The South African, image from Twitter: @SakhiNxumalo