City condemns Bruma shooting incident
29 March 2019 Release: immediate
Video footage of what is believed to be a group of taxi drivers firing their guns into the air in Bruma, East of Johannesburg has sent shock waves across the City of Johannesburg, and especially within the Department of Public Safety. Two Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers also accompanied the grieving family members to a cleansing ceremony on the corner of Cumberland Road and Allum Road in Bruma.
Questions have been raised about inaction by these officers when the shooting started. I have instructed JMPD to investigate the matter and to work with the South African Police Services (SAPS) to apprehend the criminals. JMPD will also investigate the conduct of the officers on the scene to ascertain whether there were any misconducts and if so, the department will take the necessary steps against the officers involved.
The interim investigation revealed that members of the deceased’s family requested assistance from JMPD on 27 March to cordon off the area where their family member had passed away. The request was to allow the family of the deceased to conduct a short traditional ritual. Two officer were deployed to assist the grieving family.
Upon arrival at the location, the two JMPD officers were met with a contingent of taxis and large group of what appeared to be taxi association members, some of whom later started firing into air. The two JMPD officer immediately called for backup and moved by-standers away to ensure their safety.
The officer on the scene, whose name is withheld due to the on-going investigation, says that there was a substantial amount of people who were wielding guns and the officer and his colleague were unable to safely contain the situation. The group them jumped into their mini bus taxis and fled the scene toward the N3 highway.
The behaviour of the taxi group is criminal and in stark contravention of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000 (“the Act”). We will assist the SAPS with its investigation. Once the culprits are identified and if they 2 own licensed firearms, statements in terms of section 102 of the Act will be submitted to the Registrar to declare those persons unfit to possess firearms”.
In terms of Section 120(3)(b) of the Act, it is an offence to discharge a firearm, an antique firearm or an airgun in a “manner likely to injure or endanger the safety or property of any person or with reckless disregard for the safety or property of any person” and the Act further elaborates in Section 120(7) by providing that it is an offence to do so “in a built-up area or any public place, without good reason to do so.”
In addition to the above, Section 120(3)(c) makes it an offence to have control of a loaded firearm in circumstances, “where it creates a risk to the safety or property of any person and not to take reasonable precautions to avoid the danger.” Failure to comply with the above provisions could result in that person facing a sentence of imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or face a fine whereby in respect of a first infringement, not exceed R50 000 and in respect of a second or subsequent infringement, not exceed R100 000.
We condemn in the strongest possible sense of such criminal and irresponsible behaviour by the taxi crowd, the culprits must be apprehended to face the full might of the law.
Anyone with information relating to the incidence or the identities of the culprits are requested to contact JMPD on (011) 375 5911.
For media queries:
Luyanda Longwe Stakeholder Manager: MMC for Public Safety Landline: 011 758 9505 Mobile: 061 496 0536 Luyandalo@joburg.org.za
