- Police have launched a manhunt after two passengers were shot and killed inside a bus near Mokopane.
- An image of a child survivor with her mother’s body has prompted national calls for information.
- SAPS has issued a public appeal for assistance in identifying those responsible for the killings.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has called on the public for urgent assistance after two passengers were killed during a violent attack aboard a bus travelling on the N1 freeway near Mokopane, Limpopo.
The incident has attracted attention after images showed a child survivor holding her mother inside the vehicle. The attack took place on Wednesday night, when two armed men seated at the back of a cross-border bus opened fire, fatally shooting a man and a woman.
The Volvo 60-seater bus operated by a Zimbabwean national had left Johannesburg for Zimbabwe with 54 passengers. After making stops in Midrand and Pretoria, it continued towards Limpopo.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the shooting occurred just before 10pm, roughly 8km before the Nyl Plaza. As chaos erupted, a male passenger in his 30s reportedly tried to disarm one of the attackers, with several others joining in, before the assailants fired multiple shots.
After the killings, the suspects robbed passengers of cash and cellphones before fleeing in a waiting vehicle. The make and registration of the getaway car remain unknown.
Police launch urgent manhunt
Emergency services responded swiftly to the bloody scene, while police launched an immediate manhunt. In a statement, SAPS urged anyone with information to come forward. “Anyone with information that can assist in the apprehension of the suspects is urged to contact the investigating officer, Sergeant Matsipi Makwela, on 076 786 1447; the Crime Stop number, 08600 10111; the nearest police station; or use the MySAPS App,” police appealed.
Provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe condemned the killings and has appointed a dedicated task team to track down those responsible.
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