By Eleanor Momberg
A 23-year-old mechanic is in a serious but stable condition in the Flora Clinic in Roodepoort after being wounded by a home-made device that detonated while he was servicing a client's car.
Police said the 65-year-old owner of the vehicle had brought his car to the Hyundai dealership on Ontdekkers Road in Roodepoort for a routine service on Friday.
Grant Kloppers wanted to check a fuse in the fuse box situated behind the cubbyhole, apparently oblivious of the fact that the client had rigged a home-made firearm inside. It is believed the device, consisting of a metal pipe and trigger mechanism loaded with a .22 bullet, was installed by the owner as a hijacking or vehicle theft deterrent.
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It is unclear what exactly happened, but it appears that, as Kloppers opened the cubbyhole, the home-made firearm went off, and the bullet struck the mechanic in the stomach.
"All we heard was a loud bang," said a colleague, who did not want to be named.
The wounded mechanic was rushed to the Flora Clinic where he underwent surgery on Friday night to remove the bullet. He was being treated in the intensive care unit on Saturday.
Constable Prosperity Khoza, a police spokesperson, said: "The bullet hit the mechanic in the stomach. He was taken to hospital in a stable condition."
She said the car owner had allegedly installed the device "for his own protection. But he should have taken it out when he took his car for a service," she said.
Police captain Siphiwe Ndlovu said the vehicle owner was arrested on Friday on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. He was released on bail, and will appear in court again on Monday.
Further investigations are being done to determine whether the vehicle owner will be charged with attempted murder.
"A shot went off. It is not known how it went off, so it will have be investigated," said Ndlovu.
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