MPUMALANGA - Police in Mpumalanga are looking for suspects involved in two separate gun related incidents.

Furthermore, the management therefore calls on community members to report any form of misuse of firearms, mishandling of firearms and all unlawful firearms within the community.

The management mentioned that one life lost is too many. It takes one shot to increase the number of orphans and widows in the country.

In recent days, police has witnessed a number of gun related incidents, either domestic or criminally related.

It was a traumatic experience for two girls aged 6 and 8 when they narrowly escaped death with their father in the hands of two unknown criminals who opened fire in their vehicle this morning in Belfast at about 08:45.

According to information, the two minors were driving out of the yard with their father when two criminals who had their faces covered with balaclavas opened fire.

The father instructed the kids to alight from the vehicle and seek refugee from neighbours.

The assailants proceeded to the victim's vehicle and fired more shots.

The two assailants then rushed towards their gateway grey Toyota Corolla and fled the scene.

The victim sustained two gunshots on his hand and back, he further sustained some injuries due to shattered glasses when his vehicle bumped into his wall. He was transported to Belfast hospital where he received treatment before he was transferred to the undisclosed hospital for his safety.

In a separate incident, a male victim was not as lucky as he succumbed to the gunshot wound in Mahashe trust in Acornhoek last night, Friday 3 February 2023. His body was recovered at about 22:30.

The victim's lifeless body believed to be in his 40s was found abandoned with a bullet wound on his thigh in Mahashe trust near the dumping site.

According to information, the victim was found naked and his uniform dumped next to his body.

Preliminary investigation indicated that the victim was a manager in one of the clothing store in Acornhoek shopping complex.

The victim was certified dead by medical practitioners on the scenes.

The police management calls on anyone with information that might assist in the investigation to contact the nearest police station or call the police on the Crime Stop number 08600 10111 alternatively send tipoffs on MySAPS App. The management guarantees confidentiality in all information and the identity of the information provider.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has strongly condemned the incidents and calls upon the community members to report illegal firearms, mishandling and firearms related threats.

Source: South African Police Service