Durban - A bus driver was shot dead early on Friday by a passenger, sending the bus careening down an embankment in oThongathi (Tongaat).
The vehicle was travelling on the Watson Highway when the driver was shot in the head.
IPSS Medical Rescue’s Paul Herbst, who was at the scene, said the bus was full, with about 30 people on board.
Several passengers were taken to hospital. Crisis Medical’s Kyle van Reenen said they were also called to the scene, just after 6:30am.
The shooter had not been identified and had fled, Van Reenen said.
Spokesperson for the Department of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Kwanele Ncalane, said the department wanted the shooting to be treated as an “isolated incident”.
In February, taxi operators brought oThongathi traffic to a standstill, intimidating motorists suspected of running lift clubs.
“But we are not aware of any issues with the buses or bus operators,” Ncalane said.
Transport and Safety MEC Willies Mchunu called for calm.
A manager from the bus company, Circle Coach Tours, who asked not to be named, identified the driver as a “Mr Gumede”.
“He had been with us for more than 10 years and he was a good and reliable driver who was well respected,” he said.
He did not know what had happened on the bus and said only that it had left the depot at 6am and he had received a call 15 minutes later, to tell him the driver had been shot.
Police spokeswoman, Lieutenant Nqobile Gwala, said the incident was a robbery gone wrong.
The shooter had demanded money and then opened fire on the driver.
A case of murder has been opened but no arrests had been made on Friday morning.
Daily News