Government condemns new years shootings in Johannesburg
The Gauteng government has strongly condemned the shooting incidents which took place in the early hours of New Year's day at 2 two different locations.
In one incident, a shooting took place outside Poppy's Restaurant in Melville.
It is said that a black BMW X3 fired shots at the people sitting on the veranda of the restaurant, and two women were fatally wounded and died on the scene, while six others were injured and rushed to the hospital. Two of the six people were critically injured and rushed to the Intensive Care Unit.
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In another incident, it is reported that at about 3h00am gunshots were fired at Mary Fitzgerald Square and eleven people were wounded and rushed to hospital.
According to paramedics, four men were seriously injured.
"As the Province, we are saddened by this barbaric act," said acting Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi.
"New Year’s Day is a day of hope and celebration, a day where people plan their lives for the better," he added.
Preliminary investigations on the Mary Fitzgerald Square incident reveal that the shooter fired several shots from the upper level of M2 (South bound) double-decker Bridge and targeted the VIP area.
No arrests have been made on both incidents but police are working hard to ensure that the suspects are identified and arrested.
"I have all the trust in our Police that the perpetrators will be brought to book. We are determined as the Province to half crime by 2030, this incident will not deter us in achieving this vision,” Lesufi added.