KEY POINTS
- Two employees of Rea Vaya buses lost their lives through gunshots in Soweto during February 3.
- The Metropolitan Chief Executive Kenny Kunene provides R100 000 as a reward for anyone who gives information about the suspects.
- Rea Vaya services continue their current state of suspension.
The City of Johannesburg MMC for Transport, Kenny Kunene announced through a public statement that anyone with information about the Soweto bus drivers’ murderers would receive a R100,000 cash reward.
The two drivers received deadly shots on Monday night, February 3 as Mapetla and Protea Glen became the targets of these separate attacks which resulted in an immediate service shutdown for all buses in the area.
Kunene denounced the attacks by describing them as wild cruelty that declared open war against the Soweto government as well as its residents.
He declared that the tragic loss took a significant psychological and emotional toll on all members of the community pointing out that “Women are now widows, children are orphans.
He highlighted the deep emotional impact faced by families and the community members by saying “Women are now widows, children are orphans.” Fathers and brothers along with grandfathers became victims of these attacks.
Information leading to successful identification of criminals will further result in payment from Kunene’s personal wealth that he will provide after police officials validate their participation in the incidents.
Police investigation underway
The investigations continue under supervision of Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi.
A driver experienced the first shooting while waiting at the traffic light on Wildchestnut Street in Protea.
Nighttime violence struck again when the driver was shot dead in the route of Tshithuthune Street, Mapetla.
The passenger inside the vehicle heard gunshots before he hid under protection. During the quiet moment he tried driving and unintentionally crashed his bus against a wall.
Medical investigators declared the driver dead where the shooting occurred yet the passenger received no injuries.
Call for public assistance
Kunene made a direct request to the residents for help in finding the killers which he described as barbarians who have murdered Soweto’s citizens and brought extensive trauma to the community.
The Gauteng police force requests any person with knowledge about these incidents to make contact with Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or use the My SAPS App.
