Eight people have been taken in for questioning in connection with the shooting of at least 18 people at the Buffelsdraai landfill site, Verulam on Wednesday afternoon, 12 July.
A man(29) was shot dead at the scene and 17 victims were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds.
The Tongaat and Verulam Tabloid has established that the police have seized 11 firearms from the suspects, which will be sent for ballistic testing.
Details leading up to the mass shooting are still unclear, however, it is alleged that the victims were chased and shot at by security guards while they were at the dumping site.
Sources at the scene told the Tongaat and Verulam Tabloid that the people were scavenging for food, scrap metal, and plastic when security guards allegedly opened fire on them.
Head of Reaction Unit South Africa, Prem Balram, said Rusa officers responded to a call from paramedics from Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) requesting assistance to transport the injured from Redcliffe Clinic to Osindisweni Hospital.
“Rusa officers were immediately dispatched and on arrival were informed that two people were already transported to the hospital. Fourteen remained at the clinic. Several victims told Reaction officers that they were scavenging for food and recyclable goods at the Buffelsdraai landfill site in Verulam, when security guards opened fire on them.”
Balram said Rusa officers were previously called out to assist after scavengers blocked trucks from entering designated dumping grounds forcing drivers to drop their loads at the entrance.
“Scavengers would also allegedly climb onto the trucks and remove the garbage while the vehicle was in motion. One person was killed after he fell from a truck. Drivers were also held at gunpoint at the entrance and forced to occasionally empty their vehicles. The injured were expedited to hospital by various ambulance services,” Balram added.
KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said: “Police in Verulam are investigating charges of murder and attempted murder following an incident in which 18 people were reportedly shot at a dumping site in Buffelsdraai. Eight people have so far been taken in for questioning and eleven firearms have also been seized and will be subjected to ballistic testing.”
