Man shot dead in Bekkersdal

Spokeswoman Constable Elsie Tshonte did not believe the shooting was related to protests in the Westonaria township this week.

   

"The incident cannot be linked with the protest, as two men were outside their shack on Wednesday night when a vehicle with four occupants approached."

   

According to an eyewitness, the car with the four occupants arrived around 11pm.

  

Two passengers got out and insulted the two men standing outside the shack before firing four shots, hitting one of the men.

   

The assailants got back into the car and sped off.

   

The shot man died on the scene.   

 

The area has been hit by protests over service delivery in the past week.

   

On Wednesday, a foreign shop owner was arrested after allegedly shooting another man. He faces an attempted murder charge.

   

Last week, 35 people protesting over service delivery were arrested and charged with public violence after a petrol bomb and stones were thrown into the police station.

   

Three police vehicles and a disaster management vehicle were damaged.

   

-Sapa