The crime scene at Mary Me Informal Settlement, Soshanguve, where four out of thirteen community patrolers were gunned down.
Image: Pictures and Videos: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
The South African Police Service (SAPS) said that they responded to a crime scene at Marry Me Informal Settlement Extension 3 in Soshanguve, Gauteng.
The police found four bodies with gunshot wounds and said that they were also partially burned.
SAPS noted in a statement that witnesses in the area reported that other victims, confirmed to be eight, were taken to hospital in private vehicles and ambulances.
Investigations suggest that at about 3am, a group of community-based patrollers were converging to continue with their patrols when they noticed five people on the street.
“When the group approached the five, a quarrel broke which ended with four dead and eight injured,” according to a police statement.
“The motive for the attack will be determined by investigations.”
Authorities said that the Provincial and District Serious and Violent Crime Investigations together with forensic experts are currently combing and interviewing witnesses.
“Public Order Police as well as Soshanguve members are in the area to ensure stability,” SAPS said.
Last week, a dramatic incident unfolded at a fuel truck company in Benoni, where two articulated trucks and one rigid truck caught fire following a welding operation that went dangerously awry, leading to a rapid response from local fire services.
The Ekurhuleni Emergency Management Services arrived at the scene to find the main articulated trailer fully loaded with an alarming 40,000 litres of petrol, while an additional trailer contained another 15,000 litres.
A rigid truck, which also caught fire, was similarly filled with 15,000 litres of petrol, heightening concerns about potential hazards. Notably, the second articulated truck's trailer was empty but remained perilous due to the risks of vapour explosion.
"The fire was reportedly caused by welding works on one of the trucks, which sent out sparks that ignited nearby vehicles," said Ekurhuleni Emergency Management Services spokesperson, William Ntladi.
In a display of swift action, 20 firefighters from four different fire stations combined their efforts, employing foam as an extinguishing agent to mitigate the petroleum's volatility. Their collective efforts ensured that the blaze was brought under control within just a few hours.
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