Swift response by police officers from Vanderbijlpark led to the recovery of two firearms and the arrest of two men suspected to be responsible for the drive-by shooting incident where a man was seriously injured.

On Wednesday 29 September 2021, at approximately 11:48, police were notified about a shooting incident in progress.  Members of the Vanderbijlpark SAPS Task Team responded and found that the driver of the white Mercedes Benz was shot on the upper body and his passenger was not injured. It is alleged that four suspects in a blue Mazda 6 came from the opposite direction and started shooting at the victim’s vehicle.

Police went on a search for the suspects who fled from the scene on foot. Two men were seen running in Vanderbijlpark and police tactically stopped them.  Upon searching the men, police found two firearms in their possession. The suspects aged 27 and 25 were arrested and charged with attempted murder and possession of unlicensed firearms.

The motive for the shooting is being investigated.

Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela commended the police officers who arrested the suspects. “I am pleased by the swift reaction by the officers that effected the arrests minutes after the incident,” said Lieutenant General Mawela.

The suspects will be profiled and the seized firearms will be sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory to determine if they are not linked to any other crime that has been committed.

The arrested suspects are expected to appear at Vanderbijlpark Magistrates’ Court in due course.

Source: South African Police Service