A deadly shooting comes days after a joint police operation in Wentworth led to the arrest of two alleged drug kingpins.
Police and private security companies at the scene in Hime Street, where two people were shot dead and eight were injured. Photo: Supplied
Two people, including a child, were killed and eight others were injured in a shooting in Hime Street in Wentworth, KZN, this morning.
Southlands Sun reports that, according to sources close to the scene, a group of men were outside the flats in Hime Street when gunmen opened fire on them.
The injured people were transported to a nearby hospital in private cars. The motive for the shooting has not yet been established.
At the time of publishing, police were still gathering evidence at the scene. While people on social media have alleged that the shooting is drug-related, this has not been confirmed by the police.
Police at the scene of the shooting. Photo: Supplied
Spokesperson for PT Alarms Dhevan Govindasamy says the gunmen, dressed in municipal overalls, jumped out of their car in Major Calvert Street and headed towards Hime Street.
“They opened fire on a group of eight people, including a young boy who is aged between six and 10. The boy and the other person died at the scene, while others were transported to hospital,” he says.
No further information was available at the time of publishing.
Alleged gang members arrested
This morning’s shooting follows a recent SAPS intelligence-driven operation that was conducted in Hime Street, where two alleged key gang and drug figures were arrested.
The operation aimed to address the recent escalation of drive-by shootings and gang-related incidents in the area.
Spokesperson for the metro police, Colonel Boysie Zungu, said at the time that the police’s successful multi-agency operation demonstrated their unwavering commitment to dismantling drug and gang networks that continue to destabilise communities.
“The collaboration between our specialised units and provincial law enforcement partners sends a clear message [that] gang violence and drug trafficking will not be tolerated in eThekwini,” said Zungu.
