Family speaks out after woman shot, allegedly by private security near Louis Trichardt
A 28-year-old woman is still recovering from injuries she sustained when members of what is suspected to be a private security company opened fire on her uncle's vehicle near Louis Trichardt on Friday evening at around 21:30.
Polokwane Review reports that according to the vehicle owner, Phathutshedzo Mukwevho from Biaba, he was travelling from Gauteng with his wife, children and niece when the incident occurred.
He says as he approached the circle leading to the R578 (Elim road), two unmarked vehicles – one in front of him and one behind – stopped him. Fearing an attempted hijacking, he drove off towards Polokwane on the N1. The two vehicles apparently gave chase.
As Mukwevho attempted a U-turn back towards Louis Trichardt, he says the vehicles continued to pursue him. When he reached the circle again, one vehicle blocked his path.
He turned in the direction of Sinthumule, and that is when the private security personnel allegedly started shooting at his car.
'I jumped out of the vehicle and surrendered. I was with my wife, children, and my niece who started crying from pain, and when we checked on her, she was bleeding,' Mukwevho says.
Another security company reportedly arrived on the scene and called the police and an ambulance.
Mukwevho says he was traumatised by the experience, especially since the pursuing cars were unbranded, which made him believe they were hijackers.
The family rushed Mukwevho's niece to hospital, where she underwent surgery to remove the bullets.
'This whole ordeal has affected us deeply. We're seeing a psychologist,' says Mukwevho.
A police report confirmed that the family was travelling in a hatchback when approached by an unmarked vehicle and that the driver did not stop, suspecting potential danger.
A 42-year-old man, identified as a security officer with a local private security firm, was arrested at the scene. Police confiscated a Siga 7.62 rifle believed to have been used during the shooting.
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe condemned the incident, saying the law should take its course.
The suspect appeared in the Makhado Magistrate's Court today but the outcome of the court proceedings was not yet known at the time of publishing.
In the meantime, Mukwevho says he intends to take legal action. 'My car is riddled with bullet holes. This cannot go unchallenged.'
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