A deadly start to December leaves 5 dead in Olievenhoutbosh, Centurion
A police member was shot and critically when shots were allegedly fired randomly from an unknown vehicle.
Gauteng Provincial Commissioner of Police, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela has condemned the violence and called for restraint following three separate incidents on Monday during which a total of five victims lost their lives and nine were injured, including a policeman who was airlifted to hospital after sustaining serious injuries.
"In the first incident around 05:00 on Monday morning near the Plaza Taxi Rank in Olievenhoutbosh, the driver of a taxi patrol vehicle was fatally shot while three passengers in the car survived the shooting and were rushed to hospital for medical attention," says the police's Mathapelo Peters.
ALSO READ: Transport MEC to intervene as taxi shooting in Olievenhoutbosch leaves 1 dead, 2 injured
Later, at around 18:55 on the same day, at the corner of Ruimte and Appiesdoring Streets, Heuweloord in the Wierdabrug policing area, a vehicle with no registration numbers allegedly stopped alongside a stationary taxi on Ruimte Road, says Peters.
"Three armed men allegedly alighted from the vehicle and fired shots at the taxi, fatally wounding three men who were inside the taxi."
The suspects then escaped in the same vehicle.
In the meantime, a police member was shot and critically wounded at round about the same time as the incident on Ruimte Street near Olievenhoutbosch when shots were allegedly fired randomly from an unknown vehicle.
Six other victims sustained injuries, while one person was declared dead on the scene.
Lieutenant General Elias Mawela has called for the immediate mobilisation of maximum resources to ensure that the perpetrators of these violent acts are apprehended and more importantly, that the violence does not escalate further, says Peters.
"As the police, we are duty-bound to ensure the safety of commuters who rely on taxis as a means of transport, especially during this festive season period where people will be travelling long and short distances to different destinations," said Mawela, assuring the public that police will work around the clock to ensure that the perpetrators of the violence are found and arrested.
Cases of murder and attempted murder will be investigated.
Witnesses or anyone who may have information that could lead to the identification and apprehension of the suspects are urged to call the Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or give a tip-off anonymously on the My SAPS app.