Soshanguve, Gauteng – The death toll from a brutal shooting and burning incident in Soshanguve's Marry Me Informal Settlement has tragically climbed to five, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi confirmed on Sunday. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning, has left eight others injured and the community reeling.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) responded to a grim scene at Marry Me Informal Settlement Extension 3 at approximately 6am on Saturday, where they discovered four bodies bearing gunshot wounds and signs of having been partially burned. A fifth person has since succumbed to their injuries in hospital.
According to Gauteng police spokesperson, Brig Brenda Muridili, preliminary investigations suggest that the violence erupted around 3am. "Witnesses reported that other victims, confirmed to be eight, were taken to hospital in private vehicles and ambulances," she said. The SAPS statement further detailed that a group of community-based patrollers were gathering to begin their patrols when they encountered five individuals on the street. "When the group approached the five, a quarrel broke out which ended with four people dead and eight injured," the statement read.
The motive behind the attack remains under investigation. "The motive for the attack will be determined by investigations," Brig Muridili confirmed. Provincial and district serious and violent crime investigation units, along with forensic experts, are currently on the ground, meticulously combing the scene and interviewing witnesses in an effort to piece together the events of that fateful night. Public order police have also been deployed to the area to ensure stability and prevent any further escalation of tensions.
Premier Lesufi, addressing the residents of the Marry Me Informal Settlement on Sunday, expressed his condolences and assured the community that the matter was being treated with the utmost seriousness. He confirmed that the case is now being investigated at a provincial level and that law enforcement agencies have been given a 72-hour deadline to apprehend the perpetrators.
"I was taken through the information about the crime scene, evidence collected, exhibits that are at the disposal of the police and those that they feel can assist them with relevant information. I’m impressed with the information gathered and the work they have done in 24 hours or so," the Premier stated, highlighting the swift action taken by the police in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
However, this tragedy is not an isolated incident. Premier Lesufi revealed that a similar act of violence occurred in the area just three weeks prior. "Actually three weeks ago, a woman was killed in a shack and after that, the community was very angry and they took a resolution to establish a team to patrol the community and to patrol the surrounding areas," he explained. This previous incident underscores the growing concerns about safety and security within the Marry Me Informal Settlement.
Residents have voiced their frustrations about the ongoing criminal activities in their area, claiming that their reports to the authorities have gone unanswered for far too long. One resident, speaking anonymously, lamented, "We are tired of the crime that is happening here in Marry Me. We have been reporting and reporting with no luck. People have died, now what must happen, how are we going to get assisted?" This sentiment reflects a deep sense of desperation and a perceived lack of support from law enforcement.
Premier Lesufi has promised to return to the Marry Me Informal Settlement next Wednesday to address the community's concerns and outline a plan of action to improve safety and security. "So on Wednesday, when I come here in the evening, we will have to deal with this issue. I’ve got detailed information including the people that are imprisoned they are still coordinating crimes while they are inside including those that are right leaders … doing things in this community," he asserted, suggesting that the authorities are aware of the underlying issues contributing to the high crime rate.
Dr Bandile Masuku, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Community Safety in Gauteng, has urged community patrollers to register with the Community Policing Forum (CPF). He argued that formal registration would provide patrollers with access to better resources and training, ultimately enhancing their safety and effectiveness.
"Remember that we dealing with community policing, and community policing cannot be the same as the policing that is done by the police. Our patrollers one thing that we need to encourage – is that they need to work through formal structures like CPF. They need to be registered," Dr Masuku explained, emphasising the importance of structured collaboration between community members and law enforcement.
The police, citing the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation, have declined to allow the media to speak with the victims’ families. This decision, while understandable, has further fuelled the community's sense of isolation and frustration.
While the Soshanguve community grapples with this devastating loss, it's important to note that emergency services were recently called to a fuel truck company in Benoni. There, a welding operation gone wrong caused a fire, leading to a rapid response from local fire services.
The Ekurhuleni Emergency Management Services found an articulated trailer fully loaded with 40,000 litres of petrol, while an additional trailer contained another 15,000 litres. A rigid truck, which also caught fire, was similarly filled with 15,000 litres of petrol. William Ntladi, spokesperson for Ekurhuleni Emergency Management Services, stated, "The fire was reportedly caused by welding works on one of the trucks, which sent out sparks that ignited nearby vehicles."
In a display of swift action, 20 firefighters from four different fire stations combined their efforts, employing foam as an extinguishing agent to mitigate the petroleum's volatility, bringing the blaze under control within just a few hours.
