Rand Water exec killed and Joburg council chief whip injured at school donation event

Rand Water has confirmed that one of its executives has passed away after being shot at an event in Zakariyya Park on Monday.

Another senior official from Rand Water and the Chief Whip of the Johannesburg Council, Sthembiso Zungu, were rushed to the hospital after also being shot at by a suspected hitman at the event.

The man who opened fire at the gathering fled the scene in a getaway car that had been parked outside the venue. He is still at large.

Gunman gatecrashes Rand Water event

The Citizen understands that Zungu had been attending a Rand Water event where the state entity had been donating school shoes and uniform to more than 1 000 pupils.

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According to sources, the gunman fired a round of bullets at the direction of the officials without saying a word.

“As an organisation, we are shocked and devastated by the tragic passing of our treasured colleague, after a tragic incident which occurred at the Rand Water’s Back to School campaign, which occurred at Zakarriya Park Community Centre,” said Rand Water spokesperson Makenosi Maroo. “Rand Water’s policy prohibits the organisation from releasing the employee’s name without the family consent.”

The City of Johannesburg also confirmed the incident but said more details would be revealed at a later stage.

“The Office of the Chief Whip of Council can confirm that there was a shooting incident earlier this morning at Zakariyya Park Community Centre, wherein the councillor of Ward 122, who is also the Chief Whip of Council, Cllr Sithembiso Zungu, sustained injuries and was rushed to hospital. His condition is stable,” the City said.

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The Citizen understands that Zungu had attended the event in his capacity as an ANC official.

According to Rand Water, the donations that were handed out at the event were meant to help disadvantaged pupils with school essentials.

The Citizen has seen messages that have been circulating in ANC regional groups indicating that Zungu was shot in the arm and leg. Unconfirmed reports alleged Zungu’s bodyguard was also shot.

“He is safe, only bodyguard and Rand Water employee were deceased,” the message said.

According to Maroo, the chairperson and the CEO of Rand Water were not at the event.

The Gauteng Department of Education said around 75 pupils from Lehae Primary School, Olifantsvlei Primary School, Moses Marne Missions Technical School and Elethu Themba Public School were at the event and witnessed the shooting.

None of the pupils or teaching staff were injured.

“We have dispatched psychosocial support to all affected schools to provide necessary trauma counselling. We convey our condolences to families of the deceased and wish the ward councillor a speedy recovery” said Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane.