Watch: What sparked the viral Boksburg confrontation?
Witnesses allege inappropriate sexual remarks towards an 18-year-old learner led to the confrontation in Cason, while the bakkie driver later opened an attempted murder case.
What began as an alleged verbal harassment incident involving a school-going teenager on a busy Boksburg North street quickly spiralled into a violent community confrontation that has since gone viral on social media and is now under police investigation.
Boksburg Advertiser reports that videos circulating online show scenes of chaos on Sky Street, Cason, where occupants of a double-cab bakkie were confronted, allegedly by residents after inappropriate remarks were reportedly made towards the 18-year-old learner.
The confrontation escalated into a street fight, with objects thrown at the vehicle and the driver allegedly accelerating towards people gathered in the road before crashing into a streetlight and fleeing the scene.
The newspaper traced the incident to Sky Street in Cason, where residents and some of the people involved confirmed details surrounding the altercation.
Alleged remarks sparked confrontation
According to information gathered from residents, the 18-year-old and her brother were walking home from nearby shops on Sunday (May 24) when one of the occupants of the bakkie allegedly made sexual remarks about the young woman’s body and looks.
Residents alleged the comments angered the woman’s brother, who confronted the man in the vehicle about the remarks directed at his sister.
A heated argument reportedly followed, escalating into a physical confrontation involving several community members.
Videos shared online show hard objects being thrown at the bakkie during the altercation.
Chaos in Cason
In some clips, the driver is seen repeatedly accelerating the vehicle towards people standing in the street and on the pavement, allegedly in an attempt to drive through the crowd.
The confrontation ended after the bakkie crashed into a streetlight before driving away from the scene.
When the newspaper visited the street, the journalist saw remnants of the streetlight pole the bakkie crashed into. Most of the structure has since been removed, allegedly by scrap metal collectors searching for metal and wiring.
During the chaos, a shot was fired, allegedly by a resident, into the air.
One resident who spoke to the Advertiser claimed the shot was fired using a gas gun and not a real firearm, allegedly in an attempt to disperse the crowd or stop the fight.
Efforts to obtain comment from the young woman’s parents were unsuccessful.
However, the teen and several witnesses corroborated residents’ claims that she was verbally harassed and that tensions escalated after her brother confronted the occupants of the vehicle.
Witnesses further alleged that after community members began throwing objects at the vehicle, the driver attempted to drive towards people gathered in the street.
Police investigating incident
Police have since confirmed that a case has been opened.
Local police spokesperson Captain Neldah Sekgobela said the driver of the bakkie opened a case of attempted murder and malicious damage to property at Boksburg North Police Station on the same day.
The matter was later transferred to the Boksburg Police Station for further investigation.
“According to information received, the driver of the bakkie was picking up his daughter when he was suddenly attacked by community members. His vehicle was reportedly stoned and gunshots were also fired towards him,” said Sekgobela.
A team from the Boksburg Crime Office has started investigations and tracing of suspects in the matter.
Police investigations are continuing.
Warning: The video contains strong language and scenes that may upset sensitive viewers
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Read original story on www.citizen.co.za