In Thohoyandou, a school driver was tragically assassinated in Mukula village, with the incident leaving several learners traumatised.
Thohoyandou school driver assassination: Here’s everything we know
Homicide detectives in Thohoyandou are actively investigating a horrific murder that unfolded in the early hours of Wednesday, 22 November 2023, in Mukula village, located in the Vhembe District.
This incident has sent shockwaves through the community, considering the brutal assassination was pulled off in close proximity to school children.
According to police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, authorities were alerted of a shooting incident on Mukula Public Tarmac Road, on Wednesday morning.
Emergency services, alongside the police, arrived at a distressing scene: a Sprinter minibus, typically used for transporting school learners, was found parked by the roadside.
Inside the vehicle, a male driver lay in his seat, fatally wounded by gunshots.
In a harrowing account, learners described hearing gunshots after the minibus halted to pick up another student. In a state of panic, some learners jumped from the moving vehicle, while others scattered on the ground nearby.
The emotional and psychological toll on these young individuals was significant, with some requiring hospital treatment for trauma, and others receiving immediate care at the scene.
The male driver was declared dead at the location. As of now, the motive behind this brutal shooting remains a mystery. In the wake of this tragedy, police have initiated a murder investigation. The suspect, who managed to escape into the nearby bushes under the cover of darkness, remains unidentified and at large.
