/ 15 October 2007

Former Witness crime journalist shot and killed

A former crime journalist was shot and killed while leaving church in Woodlands on Sunday, Pietermaritzburg police said.

Superintendent Henry Budhram said Elaine Anderson -‒ a former crime reporter for the Witness newspaper — was allegedly leaving church in her car when she was confronted by two armed men on Sunday night.

After shooting Anderson, the men then attempted to hijack another vehicle further down the road.

The driver of the car, a woman who had also just been to church, was shot twice in the head.

Budhram said despite being shot, the woman tried to drive away but drove into a ditch.

Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha said Anderson had been shot twice and was declared dead on the scene.

The other woman was rushed to hospital on a ventilator but she died shortly after arrival.

The Witness newspaper said it was ”very shocked” to hear about Anderson’s death.

”She was a very nice person and very involved in her community. She was one of those people that other people turned to for help,” said an editorial staff member. – Sapa