DURBAN - Two bus driver siblings were shot and killed in Ndwedwe a month after their boss, owner of Injabuliso Bus Service was murdered in oThongathi.
Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said Ndwedwe police are investigating murder charges after two bus drivers were shot and killed in Ndwedwe on Monday afternoon.
Mbele said the incident took place between the Nyuswa and Sonkombo area in Ndwedwe.
She said it was alleged that two bus drivers, aged 36 and 38, were shot and declared dead at the scene while, injured passengers were taken to hospital for medical attention.
“The motive surrounding the shooting is unknown and charges of murder have been opened for investigation at Ndwedwe SAPS,” Mbele said.
Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) spokesperson Prem Balram said the two victims were brothers who worked for Injabuliso Bus Service.
Balram said they were shot and killed.
He said Rusa personnel went out to the scene of the incident at 6.19pm after receiving reports that a bus driver had been shot and killed. The caller was unaware of a second shooting that occurred eight kilometres away. Rusa members travelled for nearly one hour, mostly on unpaved roads, when they were flagged down by bystanders standing next to a bus.
“It was established that the driver of the bus was shot and killed while a 35-year-old woman was shot on her right leg. She was a passenger in the bus. Medics treated her injury before she was transported privately to a medical facility.
“The driver sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his head and body. He died at the scene.
“Rusa medics proceeded to the second scene, which was the initial call, and found a bus lying on its side. Medics entered the bus through the front windscreen and assessed the driver who had been shot in the head. He showed no signs of life and was declared deceased,” Balram said.
He said the conductor alleged that both men were brothers and went on to explain that a man had boarded the bus, and without warning, fired multiple shots at the driver. He then got off the bus, which rolled.
Balram said several passengers were injured when the vehicle overturned. They were transported privately to a medical facility before first responders arrived.
“The suspects are believed to have fled in a silver Toyota Etios. The registration plates were removed,” Balram said.
He added that the owner of the same bus service was gunned down in oThongathi in October.
Violence Monitor Mary de Haas said it appeared that a private security company arrived at the scene before police arrived.
“Truly, this is criminal negligence on the part of provincial government and police.
“Reportedly, one driver was shot offloading passengers about four kilometres from Premier Zikalala’s home, and the other was shot on hilly terrain so when the driver was hit, it rolled.
“I am so very angry,” De Haas said.
Last month Injabuliso owner, Kishore Sathanlal, 59, was shot dead in a drive-by shooting near his home. Sathanlal was shot while driving a red Toyota Hilux bakkie which crashed into a vehicle, before veering off the road and going down an embankment.
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