Shooter went straight for Joala, says witness
A woman who witnessed the shooting that claimed the life of Rand Water executive Teboho Joala and his bodyguard has described how the gunman shot Joala moments after he took to the podium.
Joala was shot in full view of a large group of about 75 children from at least five public schools in and around Lehae, south of Johannesburg.
They were meant to receive school shoes and other donations as part of Rand Water's back-to-school charity drive.
The City of Johannesburg's chief whip of council Sithembiso Zungu and two others were wounded in the attack.
Mandisa Muruge says she feared there would be a stampede as the children and officials attending the event scrambled to leave the hall where Teboho Joala had been shot right before their eyes.
"Everybody was running for their safety. Kids were falling on top of each other."
She says Joala's killer was visibly merciless when he fired multiple shots at him.
"The person who came inside the hall went straight to the official of Rand Water and shot him."
Eyewitness News is reporting that Joala had received multiple death threats before the shooting.
His bodyguard was also killed in the apparent hit.
"They also shot the bodyguard outside in the parking lot and in the process my car was also damaged because I had parked next to the official," says a traumatised Muruge.
The Gauteng Department of Education has availed counselling services for pupils and staff who witnessed the murders.
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