Man (29) in court after fatal shooting at Tzaneen GNT Depot
During the incident a private security guard was shot several times in the head when a fellow colleague went on an apparent shooting 'rampage'.
LIMPOPO – A 29-year-old man has been charged with murder and three counts of attempted murder following a shooting incident at the Great North Transport depot on Monday, June 21.
During the incident three people, including an GNT employee were injured. The one man sustained severe injuries to his head and died in hospital while the remaining two injured parties were treated at a local hospital for their injuries and discharged.
According to a statement issued by GNT the suspect is an employee of a private security company that is contracted by GNT to guard the depot. “It is alleged the suspect was scheduled to word night-shift, but instead broke protocol and went on a rampage, overpowering and disarming an on-duty guard and then shooting three colleagues, one an employee of GNT,” said GNT spokesperson Leo Gama.
Police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo says that during the incident a security supervisor and bus driver approached the accused to intervene and were shot and injured. “The accused immediately ran out of the premises towards the Tzaneen Madala hostel which is located 500m away. At the hostel he located yet another colleague whom he shot in the head.”
Mojapelo told Review that the suspect was immediately detained by security personnel from a local security company after the shooting. “He was disarmed of a five-loader revolver and handed over to the police.”
Gama explained that the guard was who was shot three times in the head and was rushed to the Van Velden hospital for medical treatment, but passed away a short time later. “The injured supervisor and GNT employee were also treated for their injuries in the same hosital and discharged,” he added.
“The accused has since appeared in the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court on a count of murder, three counts of attempted murder and a count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. On Wednesday the court remanded the accused in custody until 29 June for bail application, he added.
The spokesperson for the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Zaid Kalla said the department will allow the police the necessary space and time to carry out their investigations so that the necessary legal action can be taken against the shooter. “The department strongly condemns the incident or any form of violence within its premises and as a result supports the harshest corrective measures to be taken against the gunman.”
GNT interim chief executive officer Dr Matata Mokoele has condemned the incident and sent his condolences to the bereaved family.
