Six people were killed and several others injured in a shooting incident on the R59 on Tuesday.

The incident brought Meyerton to a standstill, with emergency services rushing multiple victims to nearby hospitals for treatment, while police cordoned off the busy road.

A heavy police presence was evident as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident began.

The violence began when a bus travelling from Johannesburg to Lesotho was targeted. Gauteng Deputy Provincial Commissioner Major-General Fred Kekana said a white Nissan Juke pulled up alongside the bus, and the occupants opened fire without warning.

In a brave attempt to save his passengers, the bus driver tried to push the Juke off the road. His actions forced the gunmen’s car to veer off the tarmac, bringing the immediate shooting to an end.

Kekana confirmed that the three occupants of the vehicle fled the scene on foot and subsequently hijacked another vehicle nearby. However, their escape was short-lived. Officers patrolling the area were alerted by the hijacking victim and pursued the hijacked vehicle.

“Two suspects were initially arrested in the Kliprivier area, with the third suspect being arrested at a later stage,” Kekana said.

The R59 was closed for several hours as forensic teams searched for evidence and moved the damaged vehicles.

Investigations into the matter are ongoing.