The Mpumalanga acting police commissioner, Major General Dr. Zeph Mkhwanazi, has increased police deployment in Mkhuhlu near Hazyview.

This follows the latest attacks in which four people were gunned down while a fifth was severely injured and transported to hospital last night, Sunday, July 12.

A vehicle that had five occupants was about to enter a family yard at the Crossroads Section of Mkhuhlu Township when gunmen emerged and opened fire at the vehicle around 20:40.

Four occupants of the vehicle were shot dead on the spot and a fifth was critically injured.

“It looks like a rifle and a 9 mm firearm were used in the attack. We subsequently increased our deployment in Mkhuhlu since last night to manage the situation,” said Mkhwanazi during an urgent media briefing held this morning, Monday July 13.

“Investigations are ongoing and we hope that members of the community will come forward with information that can assist us in making sure that we get the suspects who attacked the victims. These incidents of gun violence happening in Mkhuhlu or in Calcutta as a whole are not happening for the first time and we do not know what the motive for these attacks is,” added Mkhwanazi.

The latest gun murders came shortly after a local ward secretary, Shaun Matjeke, was gunned down on Thursday, July 9, at approximately 19:30.

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Police received information about a shooting incident and immediately responded to the scene.

On arrival, they found a grey VW Polo on the side of the road and on the driver’s seat was the body of a man with gunshot wounds.

Emergency Medical Services personnel were called, and they declared the man dead at the scene.

Police are still on the lookout for the suspects and are calling on anyone who might have information that can help in the investigation or assist in the apprehension of the suspects in both incidents to please call the nearest police station or Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Information can also be given anonymously via the MySAPS App.

Meanwhile, Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu is expected to visit the Calcutta police station in order to interact with the members of the SAPS and affected communities this morning, Monday July 13, at 11:00.