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Umhlanga Rocks: Woman killed in drive-by shooting

Umhlanga shooting

According to Netcare 911’s media liaison, Shawn Herbst, the shooting took place on Umhlanga Rocks Drive in Somerset Park, in the North of Durban.

Umhlanga Rocks shooting: Here’s what we know

Reports indicated that a car twith two occupants was fired upon, and paramedics, first responders and authorities rushed to the scene.

Herbst added that the passenger, a woman whose identity hasn’t been revealed as yet, had sustatined a fatal gunshot wound and was declared on the scene.

One dead, one critically injured

The male driver also sustained a gunshot wound to the head. He was still alive but in a critical condition and advanced life support parademics resuscitated him.

Investigation underway

According to Netcare 911, the victims were reportedly travelling towards the Gateway Shopping Centre in a black convertible BMW on Umhlanga Rocks Drive.

A second Black BMW drove up on the passenger side of the convertible and opened fire and sped off, killing the woman and critically injuring the driver.

“The victims vehicle crashed into the traffic circle before coming to a stop.”

Authorities are still investigation; the motive for the shooting is still unknown.

More to follow, this is a developing story.

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Part of Mpumalanga children’s home gutted by fire on Christmas Eve

One of the rooms at the Ethembeni Children's Haven that was ravaged by a fire on Christmas Eve.

One of the rooms at the Ethembeni Children’s Haven that was ravaged by a fire on Christmas Eve. 
Image: Supplied

Tragedy struck on Christmas Eve for residents of a children’s home in Mpumalanga.

Pastor Jeremiah Zulu, founder of the Ethembeni Children’s Haven in Kromdraai, Emalahleni, told TimesLIVE on Friday about the blaze that broke out on Tuesday night.

“We were in the main building when we saw flames coming from the boys’ dormitories,” he said.

“Luckily the boys were not inside there at the time. But the fire destroyed their school uniforms, Christmas clothes, their beds and bedding, and the ceiling of the dormitory.”

He said they did all they could to put out the flames, along with community members and the fire brigade.

The fire is believed to have started from a plug near one of the beds.

“We are a non-profit organisation and unfortunately we didn’t have the funds to insure the building. That’s the bad part. Had we done that, we wouldn’t be facing a problem,” said Zulu.

Ethembeni currently caters for 22 children. Some of them are orphaned, while others have been brought in by authorities because they need a place of safety.

Zulu said they decided to keep Christmas Day special, despite some of the children losing the clothes they were planning to wear on the day.

“God was so good to us because we had prepared for Christmas, so we tried to keep it exciting. We were expecting visitors and we had to focus on that. It’s about attitude, so we stayed positive.”

Boys in the rooms that burnt have been moved to other rooms, which were not fully occupied.

Zulu said they are not sure when they will be able to start rebuilding. “We are hoping that over the new year things will be a bit better, but for now we are appealing to anyone who can assist us with paint, ceiling boards, cement or lockers, which we can use as wardrobes.”

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Suspected thief burnt at Germiston substation ‘lucky to be alive

Part of the Wychwood substation in Germiston was damaged on Thursday when two men allegedly tried to steal copper cable.

Part of the Wychwood substation in Germiston was damaged on Thursday when two men allegedly tried to steal copper cable. 
Image: Supplied

A ward councillor who was the first on the scene when a substation in Germiston, east of Johannesburg, was damaged on Thursday as a result of alleged cable theft described how a man’s shoes melted on the floor.

“He is extremely lucky to be alive,” said Ekurhuleni councillor for the area Kade Guerreiro on Friday.

The man was admitted to the intensive care unit at the Tambo Memorial Hospital in Boksburg on Thursday afternoon with burn wounds all over his body.

Guerreiro said a resident phoned him on Thursday afternoon and informed him that there were people inside the Wychwood substation.

“There was a big bang. The man we found close to the substation had been badly burnt as he tried to steal the cable. An accomplice ran away,” said Guerreiro.

He said the damage to the substation had been estimated at R2m.

“The man sustained extremely bad burns. It is a warning to people who want to commit these crimes.

“One of the things that shocked people is to see his melted shoes still stuck to the floor. The man is lucky to be alive.”

“One of the electricians likened the pain the man felt to someone cooking themselves inside a microwave – that is the extent of the power the man felt.”

Guerreiro said a criminal case had been opened. “We managed to get Primrose police station to assist us. They are doing a manhunt for the other suspect.”

The attempted theft meant seven areas around Germiston were without power for about six hours on Thursday, including Primrose and Malvern East.

“A big thank you to the Ekurhuleni power technicians because around midnight, everything was fixed and power was restored,” said Guerreiro, adding that the City of Ekurhuleni spent millions every year to fix damage to substations.

He said security at the substation was lax and there were no security guards at many substations.

“There is not even a hi-tech locking system … It is very easy for criminals to break the locks and enter the premises.”

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Man shot in car outside Durban mall

Paramedics treat a man who was shot multiple times outside a mall in Westville, Durban, on Friday.

Paramedics treat a man who was shot multiple times outside a mall in Westville, Durban, on Friday. 
Image: Rescue Care

Emergency workers have responded to reports of a shooting outside a mall in Westville, Durban, on Friday.

Rescue Care’s Garrith Jamieson said paramedics responded to reports that a man had been shot multiple times.

The shooting occurred at about 3.30pm, said Saps KZN spokesman Capt Nqobile Gwala. A man, believed to be in his 30s, was driving his car when he came under fire from a group of unknown suspects.

Gwala said paramedics were treating the man at the scene.

She said a case of attempted murder would be opened at the Westville police station.