DURBAN- Two people believed to be a couple have died following a fatal shooting that took place in Hambanathi near Tongaat in KwaZulu Natal (KZN) on Monday morning.
According to Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) spokesperson Prem Balram, the couple succumbed to their injuries after the shooting incident in their rented room on Mabalengwe Road.
He said reaction officers were dispatched after receiving phone calls from concerned residents.
“Residents contacted the Reaction Unit South Africa Tongaat Operations Centre at about 6: 50am after hearing gunshots in the room. Reaction officers were dispatched to the address and on arrival met with officers from the South African Police Service (SAPS),” said Balram.
Law enforcement officers were informed that a female had been heard screaming before shots were fired.
“A male and a female were located on the ground bleeding from gunshot wounds to their heads. A 9mm pistol was located between the two,” said Balram.
According to Rusa, paramedics from several private ambulance services attempted to stabilise the couple who were in critical condition. The female was rapidly transported to hospital where she passed away shortly after arrival, while the male succumbed to his injuries at the shooting scene.
Balram said the motive for the shooting was yet to be established.
IPSS Medical Rescue was one of the private ambulance services that responded to the emergency. Its spokesperson Paul Herbst said upon arrival, two victims were located, both with head shot wounds.
Herbst said reports on scene suggested this was an attempted murder-suicide by the couple.
“The female was transported by (Rusa) ambulance services to hospital where she was declared deceased. IPSS advanced life paramedics tried their best to treat the male victim on scene but sadly he passed away on scene,” Herbst added.
Provincial Police Spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala confirmed the incident.
“This morning at 6:30am Tongaat police received a complaint of a shooting at Hambanathi Tongaat and proceeded to the scene. Upon arrival they found a 38-year-old male with gunshot wounds on the head and was confirmed dead on the scene,” said Gwala.
She added that a 32-year-old female sustained gunshot wounds on the left hand, her right cheek and head. She was taken to hospital where she succumbed to her injuries on arrival.
An inquest for murder was opened at Tongaat SAPS for investigations.
