Man out on bail after shooting near KaMhlushwa tavern
A fight that started at a tavern in the KaMhlushwa area on Friday night took an unexpected turn when a man living nearby heard the commotion and shot one of those involved in the leg.
KAMHLUSHWA – According to Const Zithulele Mhlongo of KaMhlushwa SAPS, a community member called the police to report that a man had been shot around 21:00 that night. They arrived to find a man bleeding from the thigh.
The victim was rushed to Tonga Hospital and to the serious nature of his injuries, he was later transferred to Rob Ferreira Hospital.
After a preliminary investigation, police found that the victim and another man had started fighting at a nearby tavern. They ended up at the fence of a nearby house and disturbed the occupants.
The 35-year-old homeowner went outside when he heard the commotion and fired a shot at the two men, hitting one in the leg.
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He was arrested for attempted murder and negligent handling of a firearm. Police are still establishing a motive for his actions.
The accused appeared in the Nkomazi Magistrate’s Court in Tonga on Monday and was released on bail of R5 000. He is set to appear in court again soon to face the two charges.
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Mhlongo requested that the accused’s identity not be published due to the sensitive nature of the incident.
Capt Mzwandile Nyambi, the KaMhlushwa station commander urged lawful firearm owners to comply with the regulations at all times to avoid accidental injuries or fatalities.
Mhlongo said that in situations like the above mentioned, community members are urged to asses the situation before firing any shots and to rather phone the police or contact members of the community policing forum for assistance.
The constable also mentioned that there has been a recent rise in property crime, like housebreaking, theft and residential and business burglaries, as well as malicious damage to property. He said that the residential zones of farms in the precinct seem to be targeted the most.
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Nyambi urged police members to be more visible in the community to deter criminals and spot crimes. Community members should also be more security conscious and keep valuables safely locked away or stowed out of sight.
Criminals seem to be moving to various areas in rural Nkomazi and moving on as soon as law enforcement cracks down on their operations. Due to the lack of manpower and resources for border defence, the entire region is rife with cross-border crime.
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Community members are urged to report any suspected criminals or criminal activities like smuggling of undocumented persons, stolen goods and vehicles and illegal drug trading to the police. This can be done anonymously via the SAPS’ Crime Stop line on 08600-10111.
