The community of Ndwedwe and neighbouring Tongaat haven been left shaken by the brutal murder of two brothers who were gunned down in an alleged hit on Monday afternoon, 15 November.
The brothers aged 36 and 38, who were both drivers for the Tongaat-based Injabuliso Bus Service, were shot in two separate incidences by unknown gunmen. According to the police the brothers were shot several times and sustained gunshot wounds to their heads and backs. The KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Colonel Thembeka Mbele said, “While travelling between the Nyuswa and Sonkombo in Ndwedwe two bus drivers aged 36 and 38 were shot and declared dead on the scene, the 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.” The brutal murder of the brothers follows that of the Injabuliso Bus Service owner, 59-year-old Kishore Sathanlal, who was killed in a drive-by shooting on the R102, Tongaat on Saturday, 9 October. His bullet riddled bakkie was discovered by Reaction Unit South Africa officers, who where flagged down by a taxi driver who allegedly informed them that the vehicle had collided into his before careening down a nearby embankment.
RUSA spokesperson, Prem Balram said they also attended the two separate scenes of where the brothers were murdered. He said after receiving a call for assistance members were dispatched to the area. Balram said the initial caller was unaware of the second shooting which had happened approximately eight kilometres away from the incident that they were called for. He said, “Officers travelled for almost an hour to the scene, 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 dead while a 35-year-old female was shot on her right leg. She was a passenger in the bus. Paramedics 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.” Balram said the paramedics then proceeded to the second scene, which was the initial call, and found the bus lying on its side. “Paramedics entered the bus through the front windscreen and assessed the driver who was shot in the head. He showed no signs of life and was declared deceased. According to the conductor both the deceased were brothers. He explained that a man (the suspect) boarded the bus and without warning fired multiple shots at the driver. He then exited the vehicle which continued to roll before it climbed an embankment and fell to its side.”
Several other passengers were injured when the vehicle overturned. They were transported privately to a medical facility prior to the arrival of first responders. Zithulele Ngcobo, Cottonlands resident, said the incident has the community reeling in shock. “We don’t why these guys were shot. We are all in shock and everyone is speculating especial because their murder happened so close after the shooting of the bus owner. We don’t know if it was a personal matter of if both these incidents are related. I feel sorry for their family nobody deserved to be killed in such a way. There were even innocent passengers in the bus.” Ndwedwe Councillor Sabelo Hlophe conveyed his condolences to the family and condemned the attack. He said, “Those who commit such atrocities must be brought to book and face the full might of the law. Violent acts such as these cannot be condoned.” Hlophe said he plans to visit the families of the deceased soon. As of Tuesday afternoon, a manhunt was still underway for the gunmen as the police confirmed that no arrests had been made.
