Durban - Two members of a neighbourhood watch were shot while on patrol in Hazelmere, which falls within eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, on Sunday.
Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) spokesperson Prem Balram said the neighbourhood watch team were manning a checkpoint in Hazelmere on Sunday night when the incident occurred.
Balram said Rusa received a call for assistance just before midnight from a member of the neighbourhood watch requesting assistance, after the driver of a silver VW Polo opened fire on their team.
He said Rusa reaction officers responded immediately to the scene.
Balram said that on arrival, reaction officers were met with one of the victims who sustained a single gunshot wound to his shoulder.
“The 36-year-old man was treated for his wounds before being taken to hospital by ambulance. A second person was shot in the leg but was taken to a medical facility prior to the arrival of first responders,” he said.
Balram said it was alleged the Polo was stopped by the neighbourhood watch at a checkpoint.
He said the driver of the vehicle informed the patrollers he was visiting his girlfriend in the area.
“The patrol team offered to escort him to his destination due to him being an unfamiliar face in the area. After travelling a short distance from the checkpoint, the driver of the silver VW Polo stopped and opened fire on the Kia Seltos that was escorting him. The VW Polo then sped off,” said Balram.
He said reaction officers conducted an extensive search for the vehicle, however no arrests were made.
Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala said a case of attempted murder is being investigated by Verulam SAPS.
“It is alleged a 36-year-old man was shot by an unknown man while at Hazelmere. The victim sustained a gunshot wound on the leg and was taken to hospital for medical attention. The suspect fled the scene after the incident. The matter is still under investigation,” said Gwala.
Gwala could not confirm the injuries to the second victim.
