By Everson Luhanga
- The victims were taken to hospital in multiple ambulances after being shot at close range in a late-night attack.
- Officers discovered 11 more bodies with bullet wounds in a building at the Protea Mine, with no witnesses present.
Twelve people, including nine men and two women, have been shot dead at an abandoned mine shaft in Magaliesburg, Westrand district.
A further nine people were injured after a mass shooting at the abandoned Protea Mine in Magaliesburg in the early hours of Friday morning.
The killings are suspected to be the ongoing zama zama turf war in the area.
Two police officers were approached just before 1am by a man and two women, who said there had been a shooting at the mine earlier that night, at around 10:45pm. One of the women had already been shot in the shoulder.
While speaking to the officers, police received a call saying that more people had been shot in the area.
Soon after, vehicles began arriving at the Magaliesburg police station carrying wounded victims. One vehicle brought four injured people. Another, a Nissan, brought three more. Another white Nissan, without registration plates, carried one victim.
In total, nine injured victims arrived at the station. They included men and women from Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, with injuries ranging from bullet wounds in the stomach, thigh and shoulder to fractures and groin injuries.
The victims were taken to Leratong and Helen Joseph hospitals by emergency services. One person died in an ambulance on the way.
Later, another victim was found hiding at a taxi rank. He told police he had been inside a building at the mine when a group of armed men stormed in and opened fire. He was shot in the back and said he hid in the bushes until morning.
Police went to the scene at the mine and found 11 more bodies – nine men and two women – all with bullet wounds. No witnesses were at the scene.
Cartridges and projectiles were found scattered around the area.
Several senior police officers, detectives, crime scene experts and emergency services attended the scene. The number and identity of the shooters is still unknown.
Police are investigating 12 cases of attempted murder and 9 of attempted murder.
Pictured above: An abandoned mine in Krugersdorp.
Image source: Everson Luhanga
