On Friday, a new mass shooting left South Africans in shock. Seven individuals have already been detained after they allegedly opened fire in several areas throughout Alexandra overnight. The township in Gauteng was under fire, and earlier this afternoon, the dead toll rose.
This morning, Minister Bheki Cele came to Alex. The top officer addressed the media after speaking with the local police department and Gauteng Premier David Makhura, stating that the tragedy had been made worse by a second death that had been reported in a hospital.
The patient died from his injuries in a local clinic, raising the death toll from five to six. Four more persons are still receiving high-level care after being severely injured in the massacre.
However, SAPS was able to act quickly and apprehend SEVEN suspects who they think to be responsible for these killings. At this time, police are holding a number of individuals, all of whom are believed to be citizens of South Africa.
“People who were picked up for these killings are not foreigners. They are South Africans … The victims are South Africans” – Minister Cele
7 people arrested after 6 were killed over two days in Alexandra. #AlexShootings #SAfmBTH
— Aldrin Sampear (@AldrinSampear) July 15, 2022
A night of terror in Gauteng’s largest township
The trail of destruction strewn over Alexandra has enraged residents, many of whom have joined a demonstration to ‘shutdown’ the local CBD until more answers are provided. The seven individuals are believed to be responsible for the following atrocity, and these arrests are an excellent place to start:
- They first met people travelling in a Toyota Etios on Fourth Avenue and Selborne Street and fired shots at them, injuring one.
- The second incident occurred at Eleventh Avenue and Boulevard Street: Two victims were robbed of their cell phones, then shot at.
- Then, the suspects came across the next victim at Boulevard Street, where he was gunned down.
- Another victim was shot at Seventh Avenue where he died on the scene, while two people were robbed of their cell phones and shoes.
- The suspects met and shot three people at Sixth Avenue. One person was fatally wounded, while two were taken for medical treatment.
- In the final shooting, on Sixth Avenue and Roosevelt Road, two people were shot while inside the Toyota Avanza. Both died at the scene.
[JUST IN] @SAPoliceService in Alexandra have arrested seven people in connection with the multiple #AlexandraShootings the suspects were found with firearms, cellphones and ammunition.
— Lirandzu Themba (@LirandzuThemba) July 15, 2022