Three men from a Pretoria engineering company were killed and a woman critically wounded when one of the company’s directors opened fire on Friday, police said.
The incident happened around 12.15pm at the Silver Unicorn offices in Sunnyside, said Gauteng police spokesperson Mary Martins-Engelbrecht.
”It is believed that six board members were busy with a meeting when one of [them] produced a firearm,” said Martins-Engelbrecht.
”Three of the board members managed to escape through a window of the office while the gunman allegedly fired several shots, killing two other members inside the office.”
The gunman, identified as Happy Nkosi, then ran outside and fired a shot at another director, wounding her in the head. She managed to escape.
He then turned the gun on himself and died at the scene.
The wounded woman, identified as Patricia Mbiza, was taken to the Pretoria Academic hospital in a critical condition.
The two men shot dead are Wanda Masombuka and Abraham Maredi, both aged 38.
”It is believed that a notice of the possible suspension [of Nkosi] led to the shooting,” said Martins-Engelbrecht.
The company’s attorney, Leon Malan, said he was aware of certain allegations against Nkosi about ”a breach of duties as a director”.
”It seems to me because of this situation the company was going to suspend him. Whether they decided to or whether they were just having a meeting about this, I don’t know,” said Malan.
”I was not present at the meeting so I don’t really know what happened. I don’t know what the circumstances were or what triggered the incident.”
He said a meeting with other shareholders and directors would be held soon to determine the exact problems at the company and the way forward.
Martins-Engelbrecht said initial investigations at the scene had been concluded. A pistol and six cartridges were found.
She said a house on the corner of Park and Maple Streets had been converted into offices for Silver Unicorn.
”No one else, besides those six board members, was in the building at the time of the incident.”
Gauteng police were investigating, said Martins-Engelbrecht. — Sapa