Byline: Refeloe Letsoisa

02 October 2023

After a failed hijacking attempt, a 17-year-old from Shatale and his accomplice allegedly gunned down by a tuckshop owner, Mr Edwin Malele (55).

He was reportedly shot at a four-way-stop in Shatale near Bushbuckridge in the early hours of Sunday, 01 October 2023 at about 02h30.

According to information, the victim who owns a tuckshop in Violetbank was driving his Opel Corsa and suddenly two suspects pounced on him as he got into the four-way stop.

It is said that the armed suspects attempted to hijack his vehicle.

During the squabble, the victim was reportedly shot on his upper body then sustained some injuries.

Thereafter, he was transported to hospital where he later succumbed to the injuries.

Further information indicates that after this failed attempt to take the victim’s vehicle, one of the suspects reportedly hijacked another car, a Nissan Light Delivery Vehicle (LDV) bakkie nearby then used it to flee the scene whilst his accomplice fled on foot.

During this time, the owner of the bakkie was reportedly unharmed.

The incident was reported to the Police in Bushbuckridge and the case was opened.

An investigation was conducted where information was followed and the hijacked vehicle was found parked next to a tavern in Shatale and that is where the suspect was also cornered and arrested.

During his arrest, the Police found an unlicenced firearm with its serial numbers filed off.

The suspect was charged for murder as well as for hijacking and he is expected to appear at the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 03 October 2023 facing the said charges.

Police are working collaboratively with Probation Officers as the suspect is underage.

The recovered firearm will be subjected to ballistic testing to determine whether the weapon was not previously used in the commission of crime elsewhere.

Therefore more charges could possibly be added against the suspect as the investigation continues.

Police are still tracing the second suspect who fled on foot and the public is urged to assist with information on his whereabouts by calling the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111 or send information via MYSAPSAPP.

All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.

Meanwhile the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela indicated that it is just a matter of time before the outstanding suspect is brought to book as well.